On the eve of the Manchester Arena attack anniversary Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) supporters opposed those elements of hate that exist within our society, personified in this case by the Football Lads’ Alliance (FLA) presence in Castlefield. The FLA, a far-right political organisation, announced a rally and march through central Manchester to occur just […]
In Salford 79% of Universal Credit tenants are in rent arrears
Guest article from the Salford Star: Figures released in a new report to be seen by Salford councillors next week show that 79% of housing tenants claiming Universal Credit are in arrears averaging £689. This compares with 33.6% of tenants not claiming Universal Credit in arrears with average balance of £414. Campaigners have labelled the […]
McStrike is the tip of the iceberg: unionisation is needed across the hospitality industry
Manchester’s McDonalds workers are leading the way against poor pay, working conditions, and lack of union recognition in the hospitality industry with their ‘McStrike’ on 1 May at the Oxford Rd store in the city centre. But there is still much work to be done in getting other hospitality workers to organise. The Meteor had […]
Male sex work uncovered – the pain behind the game
Guest article from Street Support Greater Manchester: ***CONTENT WARNING:This article contains details of sexual abuse that some may find distressing.*** When we think of the stereotypical “sex worker”, we are more than likely to think of the eastern European woman who has been trafficked into a western European country and is working in a brothel […]
The Mayor’s Green Summit: a balance sheet
Guest article from Steady State Manchester: I attended the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Green City Summit on 21 March: here is a quick review. The event was, as you’d expect, a mixed bag, with good and bad aspects. It is too soon to make an assessment but here, from a Viable Economy perspective, are the important […]
Salford Council reveals staggering levels of homelessness
Guest article from The Salford Star: As the Homelessness Reduction Act kicks in this month, Salford City Council is about to publish its new 44-page Homeless Strategy which reveals shocking and staggering levels of homelessness in the city. Included in the report is the fact that Salford has a higher level of rough sleeping than […]
Manchester squatters ‘put the flare up’ for Yarl’s Wood hunger strikers with solidarity event
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Manchester squatters hoisted the banner in solidarity with the female hunger strikers of Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, beckoning citizens into their space for a night of radical film and discussion. The films ranged from an investigation by Channel 4 News into the dehumanising conditions at the centre […]
Why we students should back our lecturers on strike
If ever there was a situation when students and academics should be thinking as one, this is it. Coverage of the dispute between university tutors and management is focusing on the proposed cuts to pensions. But what is largely being overlooked is that the whole situation is a result of the creeping commodification of higher […]
Consent To Entertainment: The Newspaper Boy
It probably says a lot about the kind of theatre I’m accustomed to that I was initially disappointed by the lack of soliloquies and arty shouting. After some adjustment, it turns out that well-drawn characters struggling relatably against society’s pettiness and cruelty, speaking from the heart with witty, unpretentious dialogue, against a backdrop of impeccable […]
Manchester is putting Housing First – and the results look good
This article is part of ‘The Meteor Explores: Homelessness in Manchester‘ series. Decadence, procrastination and occasional nudity. It would be tricky to explain some of our private domestic activities to an imagined third-party observer, but anarchic indulgence is for many the wholly necessary backend to the economically functional front which the aforementioned observer would probably wish […]