Andy Burnham apologises for past police LGBTQ+ discrimination

Andy Burnham said in his letter: ‘I apologise to all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and across the UK for the past failing of GMP.’ Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has apologised for past police failings towards LGBTQ+ people, acknowledging “unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering it caused”.

Campaigners say the apology is in contrast to the stance of the chief constable of Greater Manchester police (GMP), Stephen Watson, who earlier this year declined to apologise on behalf of his force, saying that do so could be seen as “superficial and merely performative”.