Rochdale Councillor John Blundell, who is a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Planning and Housing Commission, last week published a piece in Manchester Confidential entitled ‘Why foreign property investors are not a bad thing for Manchester‘. We welcome his willingness to participate in public debate about the future of our city region, but […]
Christopher Eccleston reads Riot Act at Peterloo Memorial
Guest article from the irrepressible Salford Star: Hundreds of people gathered in Albert Square, Manchester, for the annual commemoration of the Peterloo Massacre. Christopher Eccleston was loudly booed as he read the Riot Act from a window in Manchester Town Hall, while Maxine Peake relayed a message from Salford director Mike Leigh, who is currently […]
The Historical Echoes Of The Peterloo Massacre
Originally published on the Morning Star website. On 16 August 1819 Mary Fildes and members of the Female Reform Society marched to St.Peter’s Fields in the centre of Manchester with many other people to angrily demand the end of political corruption , hunger and unemployment. The women said, “Every succeeding night brings with it new […]
Engels: the journey home (part two)
Guest article from Manchester’s Now Then Magazine. This article follows Part One, which can be found here: The first part of this article previewed the unveiling in Manchester of a statue of communist pioneer Friedrich Engels as part of Manchester International Festival. But that statue, brought from the former Soviet Union by Turner Prize nominated video artist […]
Manchester activists plan to disrupt weapons sales at DSEI, the world’s biggest arms fair
Military delegations from around the world will head to London for Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) – the world’s biggest arms fair – on the 12-15 September. Many of these delegations will be from countries with abominable human rights records. At DSEI, they will meet weapons industry salespeople who will have filled the ExCeL […]
Engels: the journey home (part one)
Guest article from Manchester’s Now Then Magazine: “A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of communism”. So begins The Communist Manifesto. The spirit of its authors, the political philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, can still be found in Manchester, the radical city that inspired them. Nearly 170 years after the book’s publication and exactly […]
Not the fake news : real stories of refuge and asylum
We have all seen the frequently published articles of the right wing press monstering refugees and asylum seekers. Using them as a scapegoat for all of society’s ill’s and diverting attention away from the inadequate government policy that causes them. Refugee’s are blamed for the shortage of housing, long NHS waiting times, lack of school […]
Who Let Grenfell Burn ?
Manchester poet Tom Skinner wrote this two days after the fire in Grenfell Tower. “It was a response to seeing the government trying to dodge the guilt of what they have allowed to happen”, says Tom. It’s based on Bob Dylan’s song Who Killed Davey Moore. Who let Grenfell burn, Who’s to blame, what can we […]
Save our NHS street party sees samba, DJs and ‘Tories Out!’ message
Guest article from The Salford Star: Manchester city centre shoppers, yesterday, got down to the beat of the PCS Samba Band and a host of DJs giving out the message that the Tories must be kicked out on Thursday to Save Our NHS… “Surely no-one believes that the NHS is safe in the Tories’ hands” […]
Acoustic Amnesty fundraiser brings a taste of Americana to Salford
Once again an Acoustic Amnesty gig approaches with a top notch line up of singer/songwriters and poets that promises to bring a transatlantic feel to the beautiful Sacred Trinity church in Salford. The performance on 9 June, the day after the general election, provides an excellent opportunity to soothe away your sorrows or celebrate your […]