Concerns around this year’s A-level and GCSE predicted grade system, following the cancellation of exams due to Covid-19, have highlighted wider systemic issues of bias and inequality in the UK education system.
Road map to ‘building back better’ after Covid-19, published by Co-operatives UK
Report paves the way for a stronger co-operative sector after the economic devastation of Covid-19, with directions for government to rebuild a fairer, more resilient and sustainable economy. Co-operatives UK policy director James Wright puts forward the case for a more mutual future post-pandemic. The economic crisis brought on by Covid-19 is steadily gathering pace. […]
Homelessness during Covid-19: Manchester needs an approach based on prevention, not intervention
As more government funding is announced to fight homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic, calls are being made in Manchester for a long-term approach based on prevention rather than intervention. £105 million of funding for the Westminster sponsored programme, ‘Everyone In’, has been announced to continue support being provided for the homeless, as local organisations and […]
Proposed changes to controversial ‘Shudehill Shard’ pushed through under emergency powers
The controversial 17-storey ‘Shudehill Shard’ development has had a planning application amendment approved by Manchester City Council today under emergency powers. The published decision was also accompanied by a statement saying full scrutiny of planning proposals would recommence in July with the reinstatement of the planning committee.
The climate crisis demands we scale up retrofitting homes in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester must retrofit 60,000 residential and commercial buildings a year to be zero carbon by 2038. Cooperatives and small businesses have led the way to make homes fit for the future, but not on the scale needed due to financial restrictions, skills shortages and inappropriate supply chains. Local authorities will need to work with […]
The Meteor view: planning decisions in Manchester must be subject to full scrutiny
For the past few months The Meteor has been covering Manchester City Council’s suspension of its planning committee. We explain why we’re committed to continuing to cover this issue, which has seen controversial proposals previously rejected, approved under delegated powers. In March, Manchester City Council suspended its planning committee in response to the Covid-19 crisis. […]
Teachers in Manchester are concerned for the safety of children returning to school on Monday
Manchester’s educators talk about the need to keep students and staff safe upon returning to school but also want suitable support for children returning and adequate funding to enable it. Teachers in Manchester are keen for children to get back to their books and a formal education, but many have expressed worries over a safe […]
Could hundreds of Rochdale’s social rent homes be saved by a regeneration rethink?
Rochdale councillors have risen-up against a regeneration scheme by Rochdale Borough Housing which threatened to demolish over 700 social rented homes, with no promise as to the number of social rent homes to replace them. The councillors and residents of the College Bank and Lower Fallinge estates are calling for the demolitions to be halted. […]
Obituary: Manjeet Kaur – disability and human rights campaigner
Manjeet Kaur’s life is a story of extraordinary adversity and battles. She fought tirelessly and her work led to changes in policy and practice in several key areas. Manjeet Kaur died on Saturday 25 April 2020 in Manchester, aged 41 years. Human rights campaigner and activist Manjeet Kaur was born in Afghanistan in January 1979. […]
Beyond charity: Greater Manchester’s mutual aid response to coronavirus
Like Toto in the Wizard of OZ, the coronavirus crisis has pulled back the curtain to reveal the inner workings of our society. The precarity of the vulnerable and how many of us are much closer to that vulnerability than we realised. The new light has revealed who’s work is truly essential and how deeply […]