On Thursday Greater Manchester decides who will be the next mayor of the city region. To help you choose who should be honoured with this position of power, we asked the candidates for a succinct summary explaining why you should pick them to become the next mayor.
Manchester marches to oppose ‘greatest blow to democracy’ threatened by the police powers bill
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Manchester on Saturday, opposing the controversial police, crime, sentencing and courts bill which could severely limit the right to peaceful protest in the UK. The Meteor spoke to those who had come out on May Day to ‘kill the bill’.
The Salford Star, reporting with ‘attitude & love’ for 15 years, is closing
‘I can think of only two local newspapers that consistently hold power to account: the West Highland Free Press and the Salford Star’ said journalist and author George Monbiot. The Salford Star is to close after the elections in May. Judith Suckling talks to Stephen Kingston, the journalism powerhouse behind the Star, on its rise and fall.
Burmese in Manchester give three fingered salute and call for justice for pro-democracy protestors killed by the military junta
Tribute to victims of Myanmar military oppression takes place in Piccadilly Gardens as supporters raise awareness to the killing of Burmese pro-democracy protestors opposing the military coup.
Manchester council pledges to protect children in care from Brexit immigration changes
Manchester councillors and human rights advocates warn of ‘a new Windrush generation’, unless councils across Greater Manchester follow suit in identifying young people in care affected by the immigration changes and provide the necessary support to apply for settlement status.
‘Kill The Bill’: Manchester protests against contentious government policing bill
Hundreds of people came together in solidarity in Manchester to peacefully protest the government’s controversial and now allegedly delayed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. A number of speakers rallied the crowd with chants of “Our Streets” and “Kill The Bill”.
‘Why don’t we have a Marcus Rashford statue?’
Manchester Histories chief executive Karen Shannon and youth worker Kerin Morris answer questions about Manchester’s cultural heritage of memorials and statues in our public spaces. Online public consultation gives you the chance to have your say.
Have your say on Manchester’s statues and monuments – do they do the city justice?
There are five days left of the public consultation into Manchester’s monuments, statues and other public realm adornments. Katy Preen takes a look at what makes a monument and what matters in our public spaces and reports on the Manchester Histories public event to discuss the issues.
Breathing life back into Tom Paine’s bones – graphic novel aims to resurrect neglected political reformer
Thomas Paine was a radical human rights and political reform advocate whose work inspired the American Revolution and the formation of a democratic United States.
Artist Paul Fitzgerald is determined to re-tell the story of this forgotten hero whose work still has valid lessons to be learned in these stormy times for democracies worldwide. Kickstarter campaign aims to get this graphic novel project over the finish line. Paul answers The Meteor’s questions on why he wants to graphically re-tell Tom’s story to a new audience.
Bolton recruit: the story of anti-racist activist Ramila Patel
The story of Ramila Patel, Bolton raised trade union and anti-racist activist who was recruited to work undercover for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980s.