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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Hello and welcome,
I’m back after a week away. I see I've missed one or two quite big political stories. But if Jeremy Hunt’s announcement this morning is anything to go by, there will be plenty more to come. Many thanks to the brilliant Damon Wilkinson for taking on newsletter duties in my absence.
In today’s Mancunian Way we’ll be discussing Greater Manchester’s Green Summit, the end of ‘Trussonomics’ and the village described as 'the best place in the world' by locals.
We’ve also got some disappointing news - there will be no official Christmas lights switch-on in Manchester this winter because of a lack of space in town. Yes really.
The end of Trussonomics
The energy price guarantee will end after six months, not two years as previously promised by Liz Truss. It’s one of Jeremy Hunt’s first acts as Chancellor following Kwasi Kwarteng’s sacking last week - and probably the one most relevant to most people.
Mr Hunt says that from April, the Government will look to target help for those most in need, but a more affordable approach is needed. But campaigners are warning the scaling back of support for household energy bills will lead to a steeper ‘cliff edge’ for households.
“Households on the lowest incomes are already rationing their energy usage to dangerous levels. £2,500 is beyond their means," Adam Scorer, of National Energy Action says. “Many vulnerable people were holding on by their fingertips. Government has to be very, very careful it doesn’t prise them away.”
What else has the Chancellor announced today?
- Plans to cut the basic rate of tax by 1p, which had been due to be brought forward to April, have been abandoned and it will remain at 20p in the pound until the country can afford to reduce it
- The cut in dividend tax will also go, along with VAT-free shopping for overseas tourists, the freeze on alcohol duty and the easing of the IR35 rules for the self-employed
- Government spending in 'some areas' will be cut
At the time of writing, Liz Truss had just popped up in the House of Commons after Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt assured MPs 'the prime minister is not under a desk'. Ms Mordaunt was answering questions in the Commons on behalf of the Prime Minister as Labour put forward an urgent question on the economic situation.
Senior Tory backbencher Sir Charles Walker said Liz Truss’s position is 'enormously precarious' after abandoning almost her entire economic policy.
He told The World At One: “When you are in this sort of position I think you have got to expect the party won’t tolerate for any length of time – certainly not weeks.”
How the new tax and energy announcements will affect you
‘Austerity Mark II’
Andy Burnham said public services ‘cannot bear the brunt’ of any more funding cuts during an interview on Sky News this morning. The Greater Manchester mayor called for a windfall tax on energy companies - something he claimed is ‘staring Jeremy Hunt in the face’.
“We heard at the weekend that a big new round of cuts is coming - austerity mark II.
"All I can say, sitting from where I sit, is there’s nothing left to cut and if they make public services bear the brunt, they’ll break them," he said.
Green jobs
Green jobs that last ‘the rest of the century’ is what’s needed if Northern areas like Greater Manchester are to reach net zero carbon, the mayor has warned.
Andy Burnham has written to the Chancellor warning the region is at risk of missing its 2038 target unless it gets funding and powers to match its ambitions.
He wants Jeremy Hunt to back plans to build 30,000 net zero carbon homes for social rent, and retrofit thousands more, as a way of stimulating regional economic growth.
“Trapping the North of England in a backward-looking debate about fracking is the worst thing the Government could do at this time. It’s not enough for the Government to talk about growth - they must specifically prioritise green growth as green jobs will last the rest of the century,” Mr Burnham said.
A ‘Green Energy Task Force’ is being established between Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region, the Green Britain Foundation think tank and Co-operatives UK.
Speaking at the region’s annual Green Summit today, the Labour mayor told Joseph Timan more U-turns on energy policy is needed from the government. “We've got a government that's putting barriers in our way when actually we should be clearing the way to a green future,” he said.
A task too big?
Even in lockdown, Manchester failed to cut its carbon emissions by enough, missing its target of a 13 percent reduction in 2020.
That may seem extraordinary - given the extraordinary circumstances at the time - but it highlights the sheer enormity of the task ahead of a city that must halve emissions by 2025.
A 16 per cent reduction is now required every year until 2038 - by which point Greater Manchester has committed to becoming carbon neutral.
Council leader Bev Craig recently told Local Democracy Reporter Joseph Timan that government support is needed to achieve it. “Rather than us just saying, 'this is terrible, it's too big', what we're saying is that we have a budget that we all need to collectively work towards,” she said.
"Other cities and towns and places should be doing the same. Let's all set ourselves budgets. Let’s collectively as a country have a call to action."
Switch on is off
Manchester’s Christmas Lights switch-on will not take place this year - because there is 'no suitable location'.
Many were hoping for a return of the huge event following the pandemic. But council bosses have not managed to find a ‘suitable or safe’ location, as Dianne Bourne reports.
They've blamed the amount of construction work taking place across the city, including on Albert Square where it traditionally takes place.
Christmas Lights will still adorn the city centre and Big Santa will return to his position outside Central Library on St Peter's Square.
Last week the council announced it was scrapping its Bonfire Night events in Manchester parks - blaming the escalating costs of organising the events.
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Weather etc
- Tuesday: Sunny intervals changing to partly cloudy by early evening. 15C.
- Roads closed: A57 Snake Pass in both directions closed due to roadworks between A6013 (Ladybower Reservoir) and Hurst Road (Royal Oak Inn) until October 23.
- Trams: No service on Manchester Metrolink between Eccles and MediaCityUK due to engineering works. A replacement bus service will operate for the stops affected until October 22.
- Trains: Special timetable operating on Transpennine Express due to shortage of train crews. Passengers are advised to check their journey if travelling with Transpennine Express. Trains that do run are expected to be very busy.
- Trivia question: When was the last Manchester Christmas lights switch-on event?
Manchester headlines
Naming rights: Factory International is in talks about selling its naming rights to cover the ever-increasing costs of the project. The £210m new arts centre, due to open next year, is being funded mostly by the government and Arts Council England - but has called on Manchester council for another £25m. It will be the permanent home of Manchester International Festival (MIF) with events all year round, contributing an estimated £1.1bn to the economy over a decade.
Garden city: Manchester Council has acquired the long lease of Wythenshawe town centre from St. Modwen as part of a major regeneration. It wants to create a new civic square that celebrates Wythenshawe’s roots as a garden city, cultural hub, food hall and workspace. Thousands of new homes will also be built, including a significant number of affordable homes, on nearby Council-owned brownfield land.
Assault: Police say a man was assaulted when he was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on Sunday, following a protest outside. Around 30 to 40 people gathered outside the Consulate during a planned protest. The assault took place shortly before 4pm. Officers intervened and removed the victim, who was injured, from the Consulate grounds. Greater Manchester Police are investigating. No arrests have been made.
Campaigning
Labour's George Morton was 'campaigning firmly on Labour's record on tackling inflation and prices' when this picture was taken in Moss Side back in 1978.
Lee Grimsditch has been looking back on the by-election campaign during a year in which prices were high, an energy crisis was brewing, strikes were in the air and the Conservatives had a woman leader.
Worth a read
“Beneath the afternoon sun, Robert Carr gently sweeps his paintbrush along the front of his 300-year-old cottage. He pauses intermittently and descends his step ladder to chat to passers-by. It's a sight not uncommon here in the idyllic village of Simister, in Prestwich.”
Sounds lovely doesn’t it? And it is, according to reporter Tom George who has been chatting to residents of Simister about the village dubbed ‘the best place in the world’ and the challenges that face it.
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: 2019.
