Guest Article from The Wythenshawe Reporter: Figures revealed by the End Child Poverty coalition, on the 24 January, show that in the five local authority wards in Wythenshawe around 34 per cent of youngsters are in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. The campaign blames the shockingly high levels of poverty in the […]
‘No compassion’ as Manchester homeless squat evicted
Guest article from the Salford Star: Monday’s early morning eviction of a squat above the BefFred shop opposite Manchester Town Hall has been roundly condemned by housing campaigners, as 17 homeless people were put back on the streets. Greater Manchester Housing Action stated “shame on whoever it was that made the decision to evict”; while […]
No, Councillor Blundell – the solution to begging isn’t fines, it’s fixing our broken housing system
Councillor John Blundell strongly proposed in Manchester Confidential that Manchester City Council should start fining “aggressive beggars” as it is “the only solution” to what he describes as “organised begging”. His use of the term “beggar” comes off the back of Manchester City Council leader Richard Leese in his leader’s blog describing Christmas as “peak […]
BBC local democracy reporter sham as contracts handed to Manchester Evening News publisher
Guest story from the Salford Star: The BBC has announced that its new massively funded Local Democracy Reporter scheme is set to benefit the profit-driven mainstream media, with Manchester Evening News publisher, Trinity Mirror, getting six funded reporters in Greater Manchester. The Salford Star pulled out of the process months ago, with the board telling […]
Greater Manchester people to exchange ideas for ending housing crisis
Guest article from the Salford Star: An open ‘housing ideas exchange’ this Thursday aims to bring people from the community together with professionals, academics, activists and charities to “inspire and encourage new ideas around the housing crisis”. Anyone can attend and take part. Lack of affordable housing, private rent hikes, tenants’ rights and homelessness are […]
We can afford world-leading NHS healthcare, and here’s why
Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, recently asked the government for some of the extra £350m per week funding pledged on the side of the Brexit bus, to alleviate the crisis in the NHS due to chronic under funding. In reply the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget fell far short of Steven’s request, allocating just £350 […]
Greater Manchester pre-budget rally hears calls to bring down Tory government
Guest article from the Salford Star: A pre-budget rally on the steps of GMex in Manchester, last night, heard constant calls for the ‘arrogant and cruel’ Tory Government to be brought down. Speakers at the Manchester People’s Assembly rally included trade unionists, Labour Party councillors, the Canon of Manchester Cathedral, plus a message from Julie […]
As Manchester gets no affordable housing from developers, Shelter urges end to planning evasion
Guest article from the Salford Star: Research by housing charity Shelter has shown that where ‘viability assessment’ has been used by developers in planning, 79% of affordable homes have been lost. Shelter looked at planning applications for eleven councils, including Manchester where no affordable houses were provided as developers used the get-out. Separate research by […]
British sound and Manc slang: Argh Kid brings poetry to Victoria Warehouse
Before David Scott became Argh Kid, his dream was to have a career in music. Ten years later, he has been invited to be the Poet Laureate at Kendal Calling festival, named UEFA’s Official Poet, written a film for Manchester United FC and last weekend was invited to host The British Sound Project – a […]
Salford apartments branded ‘Downtown Manchester’ flogged to Knightsbridge investors
Guest article from the irrepressible Salford Star: Luxury flats in Ordsall, already branded ‘Downtown Manchester’ by developer, Villafont, are being flogged to the rich in Knightsbridge as investment properties, promising a yield of 7%, with an average price of around £270,000. When planning permission was granted by Salford City Council two years ago, the developers […]