Lamppost drama, a celebrity osprey, and illicit swimming

Welcome back to another week at The Exchange. We had the first instalment of our biggest investigation yet on Saturday, into Leeds’ biggest tech company, TPP, and its software SystmOne. On X, Vaughan Allen thanked us for providing “banger after banger” of investigations (we’ll ignore the second part of his tweet). Our journalism was also described for the first time as a “marmalade dropper” — we can only apologise for any smashed jars and sticky floors.

Our Saturday piece looked into SystmOne’s usage in prisons. But they're aren't the only places where this tech is deployed. First thing tomorrow, we’ll have the next instalment with you.

We’re keen to talk to anyone who either works at TPP, or has in the past. E-mail us here, or send us a Whatsapp or Signal message (username: theexchange.68). All information treated in confidence, and we protect the anonymity of sources.

The round-up:

💪 Sunday marked 90 years to the day since the Battle of Holbeck Moor, when around 1,000 of Oswald Mosley’s fascists were hounded by 30,000 — largely Communist — anti-fascist protesters after they attempted to march through the city. Having been banned from heading towards the Jewish hub of Leylands, they instead went from Calverley Street to Holbeck Moor, where they proceeded to get pelted by rocks. The event is said to have emboldened the anti-fascist sentiment that gave rise to the now-comparatively more famous Battle of Cable Street in London. You can peruse contemporaneous snippets of news reports in this Secret Library Leeds write-up. 

🟢 Leeds city council has now concluded its review of Mothin Ali's special responsibility allowance (SRA) allocation. They told us: "The council's internal review work into Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) for councillors has now concluded, with the finding that the payment made to the opposition group office holder was carried out appropriately and followed normal council procedures and practice. Any further issues around this payment after it has been allocated to the group concerned are for the group itself to address."

🌈 Calderdale Reform are behind the removal of a load of Pride banners that were hung up via an advertising company on council-owned lampposts, the Halifax Courier reports. The 30 banners were independently fundraised to stay up until next summer. It follows Reform’s earlier decision to strictly limit what flags could fly on council buildings, excluding the Pride flag in the process. Cue another time-consuming spat in which what can and cannot be advertised on lampposts somehow becomes the policy question of the day.

⛽ Thieves have swiped 1,000 litres of fuel from a Bradford address, West Yorkshire Police’s Wildlife and Rural Crime report for last week says. The theft took place some time between last Sunday and last Monday in BD15, an area covering Allerton. Other things stolen from the countryside this week include several cars, a quad bike, a stack of power cables, and two chickens. 

🏛️ Pudsey Reform councillor Trish Smith has announced that she will be standing down as of May, citing several reasons for her decision. “Any chronic illness takes an additional toll, and unfortunately I have three.” She also decried “personal abuse and intimidation” in politics after she was followed through the town, which “terrified” her, she wrote. A longtime councillor, Smith quit the Tory party to go independent following the 2024 local elections, saying she had “no option” but to leave, as the YEP reported at the time. She then joined Reform in May 2025. She may not be slowing down any time soon, though — her register of interests shows a list of Pudsey memberships, chairmanships, and patronages as long as your arm. Smith is one of 10 Reform councillors in LCC’s 99-strong makeup. 

🍽️ One of Jay Rayner’s favourite restaurants is right under our noses in Leeds, we’ve learned. Speaking to LNER’s podcast (who knew they had one?) he gave a nod to Sous le Nez, the stalwart French-style bistro nestled under Quebec House. Describing it as an “old stager,” Rayner said that “nothing on the menu will surprise you, but they do it all very, very well.” If you feel inspired to splash out, before 7pm you can pick from its three-course evening menu plus half a bottle of wine for just under £50 each.

🦅 Bird-lovers have been gathering at St Aidan’s RSPB nature reserve to catch a glimpse of an osprey who’s been summering here longer than expected. Ospreys died out in England in the early 20th century but were reintroduced in the 90s. Now their numbers are growing, but they’re sparse enough that this young female became a minor birding celebrity as she dived for fish in the reserve’s lakes. Mia was there on Saturday, and was just about to leave when she showed up. Head out there asap if you want to catch her before she heads to warmer climes. (And yes, we know that’s an eagle emoji, not an osprey, we'll add it to the petition for a White Rose emoji).

The big picture:

We very much hope you heeded our call to go and see artist Shiraaz Ali’s Flower Carpet in Bradford’s Centenary Square over the weekend. If not, there’s a great video of it illuminated by night here. But we loved this photo by Andrew Benge of the installation process, which really emphasises the scale of the effort involved.

Home of the week:

Four bedrooms set over four floors, cottage-core kitchen, a hefty chunk of green space, and absurdly beautiful views over the countryside for £250k — we’re struggling to figure out the catch with this house in Queensbury, Bradford.

Things to do:

☝️Get to the Point is back as part of Leeds Digital Festival, a challenge whereby speakers get just five minutes and 20 slides — which move on automatically — in which to get across any topic they like. Sounds like great practice for keeping those meetings snappy. Tickets start at £5 and the event starts at 6pm at Genio on Leeds Dock. 

🙏 45 minutes of Vinyasa yoga — followed by a glass of wine — are on offer at Headingly’s natural wine vendors Bottle Chop tonight. The 6.30pm session is sold out, but you might be able to snatch a place at the 8pm session for £22.38 if you book fast. 

🏊‍♀️ Take an unauthorised dip at Leeds Dock on Tuesday, if protesting the loss of the open swimming is your thing. The rogue swim is being organised by campaigners who want to see a licence with Love Open Water brought back. Swimmers — who should be confident in the water and happy to take responsibility for their own safety — can meet at 5.45pm by the steps near the Canary.