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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Hello,
Oh heck, it’s Mad Friday. Or perhaps you call it ‘Black Friday’ in your neck of the woods? Or the lesser-used, but grimly descriptive ‘Black Eye Friday’.
Let those nicknames ring in your ears before launching into your fourth advocaat-based cocktail why don’t you?
Whatever your name for this strange British tradition, I hope you can all enjoy your work Christmas parties and festive meals without too much drama.
As always, the weekend before Christmas is expected to be one of the busiest for emergency services who, as we all know, are already stretched to the hilt. So take care of yourselves and each other. And please do take a big coat, it’s brass monkeys out there.
On to the news.
We’re talking about David Beckham, a strange ambulance scam and a fairly predictable by-election in today’s newsletter. Let’s begin.
'Humbled beyond belief'
Congratulations to Andrew Western who is Labour’s newest MP after a landslide win in Stretford and Urmston.
In a by-election sparked by Kate Green’s resignation (she’s off to work for Andy Burnham) Mr Western won 69.4 per cent of the vote and a 9,906 majority.
It wasn’t the most surprising of outcomes given the seat has been held by Labour since 1983. But there had been some concerns about the turnout given the icy weather. And in the end, less than a quarter of the constituency’s voters turned out to the ballot boxes.
Conservative candidate Emily Karter-Candola won just 15.9 per cent of the vote - down from 27.5 per cent in 2019 - something Mr Western described as a 'damning indictment of the Conservatives'.
Reporters Stephen Topping and Nick Jackson were at the count at Old Trafford last night and spoke to Mr Western, who said he was ‘humbled beyond belief by the mandate’.
He will now step down as Trafford Council's leader to focus on his new role.
“The people of Stretford and Urmston do not just speak for this constituency but for millions more people up and down the land who know that this government has been letting us down for the past 12 years,” he said.
“The Tories have given up on governing and it is increasingly clear that the British people are giving up on them.”
Ambulance scammers
Ambulance bosses have been forced to issue a warning about a strange scam doing the rounds in Manchester.
The North West Ambulance Service says scammers have been 'posing as ambulance staff' and 'asking for donations' to pay wages during the strikes.
The trust that runs the services say con artists are knocking on doors and asking for donations, as reported by James Holt here.
It’s not exactly come at an easy time for the service. Earlier this week, NWAS boss Chris Grant issued an urgent plea asking people to only call the emergency line if absolutely necessary. At 5pm on Monday there were 600 people waiting to reach the service and 100 ambulances queuing outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients.
Unions representing ambulance workers, paramedics and call handlers are planning a series of walkouts - with the first due to take place next Wednesday.
A 'game changer' for the city?
In yesterday’s newsletter we talked about some of the huge ongoing and planned developments in Manchester, including one branded an ‘abomination’.
Today we’re looking to Ethan Davies’ story about changes to three major masterplans for the city centre.
The former Central Retail Park has recently been earmarked for a civil service hub after the government expressed interest in placing offices there. Speaking at a Manchester Council executive meeting, leader Coun Craig said the plans could be a 'game changer' for jobs in the city.
"In this current climate, when we're finding it so difficult economically in the country to still see people interested in moving, building and developing, this is a great vote of confidence for the city,” she said.
Updated plans for the site also show that a new public park called 'The Garden' will be at the centre of the scheme. Labour councillor Majid Dar said: "The success of Ancoats and New Islington is a well-celebrated one. We want the success to continue but becoming the home to many thousands of our residents, we want more green and public space."
Nearby, a 'refocussed commercially-led' neighbourhood has been added to the refreshed masterplan for the area around Manchester Piccadilly Station. The vision for the East Village Central Framework includes both commercial and residential space to be 'anchored' by accessible green and open spaces.
Meanwhile, a 'world leading' life science research and development facility is set to be built along the Oxford Road Corridor as part of the Manchester Science Park plans.
The mostly empty Greenheys Building and two terraced houses are set to be replaced by a six-storey 'state-of-the-art' office and lab space for R&D, life science, digital and technology businesses.
The updated strategic regeneration framework and new addendums are set to be open to a public consultation before being rubber stamped by the council.
Beckham vs Lycett
No matter your thoughts on Joe Lycett’s most recent stunt - and it really did divide opinion - it certainly sparked conversation. And wasn’t that the whole point?
The comedian last month issued David Beckham with an ultimatum after it was reported he had signed a £10 million deal with Fifa World Cup hosts Qatar. He asked the former Manchester United player to end his deal with the nation before the World Cup opening ceremony or he would shred £10,000 of his own money.
The comic later released a video in which he said Beckham had failed to respond and appeared to show him shredding the cash. He eventually revealed it was a hoax and he had already donated the money to LGBTQ+ charities.
During a Joe Lycett Vs David Beckham: A Got Your Back Special - which aired on Channel 4 last night - the comedian spoke to Naser Mohamed, who claims to be the first and only openly gay Qatari.
Mohamed told Lycett: “I was cut off by my family and the few friends I have can’t publicly be my friends.
“I know that the LGBT issues in Qatar are awful, I know that they’re life-threatening.”
Mr Beckham has now released a statement explaining that he understands there are ‘different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East’ and he sees it as ‘positive’ that debate about ‘key issues’ has been ‘stimulated’ by the contest being held in the country.
“We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved,” the statement read.
In the weeks after issuing his ultimatum, Lycett compared Beckham’s image as an LGBT ally to the way brands promote LGBT rights and charities when it is convenient to them. “A lot of brands particularly, and a lot of institutions, pretend to be allies of the LGBT community until it's inconvenient for them. And I would add the FA into that group actually,” he said.
My colleague Adam Maidment - who you will know as my deputy on this newsletter - has written beautifully about this subject in his latest LGBTQ+ Bulletin, which you can read here and sign up for here.
Adam says Lycett’s stunt has further highlighted issues that many LGBTQ+ people have. “We are seen when it suits, yet still expected to remain behind closed doors when it doesn’t. And that just doesn’t work,” he writes.
Weather etc
- Saturday: Light rain changing to sleet by late morning. 4C.
- Trains: Disruption to train services across England because of industrial action on Dec 16, 17, 24 and 27. No service on some routes and severely reduced on others. Where running, only between 7.30am and 6pm.
- Trivia question: England famously last won the World Cup in 1966 but one member of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning squad was actually born in Greater Manchester - can you name him?
Manchester headlines
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Stuck: Passengers were stuck in a queue of planes for hours at Manchester Airport on Thursday after a flight broke down. Customers on board Cathay Pacific, TUI and Brussels flights sat on the taxiway for hours before their flights were later cancelled and they disembarked. It’s understood the delays were caused after a Cathay Pacific flight suffered a malfunction on its approach to the runway. Behind it was a Brussels airlines flight to Brussels and a TUI flight to Cape Verde.
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Warning: The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary's emergency department in Wigan has issued an urgent plea to the public as its A&E faces 'exceptionally long waits'. "We are currently experiencing exceptionally long waits in our A&E department and urge you to access it appropriately," Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust tweeted this morning. "Use NHS 111 online or by phone to determine the most appropriate place for your health needs. Help us help you – please share!"
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Evacuated: The Oulder Hill Leisure Complex, in Rochdale, was evacuated while emergency services responded to a 'suspected chemical incident'. Police and fire crews were pictured outside the centre, on Hudsons Walk, at around 8am on Thursday. The Manchester Evening News understands that a possible chlorine leak had been reported. Two fire engines were sent to the scene and the complex was evacuated 'as a precaution'. Firefighters inspected the site and were at the scene for just over an hour.
- Closure: One of the Curry Mile’s most popular restaurants has announced its sudden closure ‘until further notice’. Mughli, on Wilmslow Road, is one of Rusholme’s longest-standing eateries. It is not yet known why the charcoal grill spot has closed. However, it has promised customers it will keep them updated and will reach out to those with bookings.
Worth a read
Antonia Gough is a very busy woman. Every morning she head out on the streets of Manchester giving out breakfast to the city's homeless.
In 2019 she quit her job and created Homeless House - a non-profit which aims to provide a safe haven for the country's most vulnerable people - and she's never really stopped since.
Providing help and education for disadvantaged people, the company runs workshops and training to 'inspire, motivate and help' the most vulnerable - including children outside of education, offenders and the homeless - to gain the skills and education they need to find employment and support themselves.
What’s On editor Jenna Campbell has been speaking to Antonia about how she will be cooking free Christmas dinners for people in need.
Money saving xmas
My colleagues Dan McLaughlin and Karyn Fleeting have created a new podcast all about money-saving and celebrating Christmas on the cheap.
In each episode, Karyn is joined by some of the country’s brightest minds and experts on how to celebrate Christmas without breaking the bank. From budgeting to bargains, dinner to days out with the kids, Christmas on a Budget shares practical tips and DIY advice to ensure that the only thing going in the red over the holidays is Rudolf’s nose.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: Simone Perrotta, who was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, in the same hospital as Geoff Hurst who scored a hat-trick in the final England won.
