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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Hello
Would you get the Metrolink in the early hours of the morning? It would certainly make the dash through town to catch the last tram less stressful.
Services currently run until midnight, but there have been calls for them to be extended until 2am on weeknights and 4am on weekends. Councillors in Salford say it would suit workers, residents and tourists and are calling for a three-month trial on the Eccles via Media City to Ashton-under-Lyne service.
The Liberal Democrat group have put forward a motion citing the work of Ella Watson, a Londoner who successfully campaigned for a late night services on the tube to increase women's safety in the capital. They say it would also provide a commuter service that extends beyond the 9 - 5 for our hospitality workers.
It’s a great idea in principle. After all, who wouldn’t prefer more public transport options?
But the Metrolink is not yet back to pre-Covid passenger levels and in recent months there has been a question mark over its future.
In the 30 years since the first Metrolink service set off from Bury station, the network has expanded to include seven lines to 93 stops, with new lines also being considered. But passenger numbers plummeted during the pandemic, falling from 45.6m in 2019 to 30.6m as of this September.
A recovery grant of £124m between March 2020 and April 2022 came from the government and there was an extra tranche of £20.5m to bolster the service until October. Experts say continued government funding while leaders work to simplify the public transport system ‘remains important’.
How 30 years of Metrolink transformed Manchester - and where it's going
Manboy racers
The above quote from Pat Karney speaks of years of frustration over an issue he claims began in earnest during the Covid lockdowns.
Coun Karney wants special 'noise-detecting traffic cameras' to be installed along Deansgate to catch the 'manboy racers' he says speed along the city centre strip on a nightly basis.
It’s a scheme that's due to be introduced between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge to stop drivers from revving engines and using illegal exhausts on the roads.
Coun Karney told reporter James Holt that city centre residents are ‘plagued by supercars racing up and down Deansgate, Peter Street and Quay Street’ at 2 or 3 in the morning, particularly on weekends.
"It causes crippling loudness. The noise that comes from the exhausts is just unbelievable and it is day and night. They find a good stretch of road and just use it as a racetrack,” he says.
A complex and sensitive inquiry
Greater Manchester Police today warned the investigation into an alleged assault inside the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester will take some time.
Confirming that no arrests have been made, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: “There are many strands to this complex and sensitive inquiry, and we will do all we can to achieve as many answers as possible, but I must stress that this investigation will take time and we will provide as regular an update as we can in due course.”
Scuffles broke out outside the building, on Denison Road in Rusholme, after 30 to 40 pro-Hong Kong democracy protesters gathered and put up posters on Sunday afternoon.
Police say a man was dragged into the grounds of the building and had to be rescued by UK police who feared for his safety. A man suffered several minor physical injuries, police said.
Officers are reviewing CCTV, police body-worn video and mobile phone footage and are asking anyone with footage to share it with police here.
The Consulate has released footage to the Manchester Evening News from its own CCTV feed of the protest outside. It claims two members of its own staff were assaulted in the violence that followed, as Paul Britton reports.
The consulate has written to police claiming a 'mob' of protestors 'stormed' its grounds after 'deeply offensive imagery and slogans' they described as 'threatening and insulting' were displayed. They allege staff were shoved, then two men who were knocked to the ground were stamped on and kicked.
Police say their investigation was launched after 'a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the Consulate grounds and assaulted'. They say ‘no other injuries have so far been reported’ aside from a ‘minor physical injury’ to the hand of a GMP officer who intervened.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called the attack ‘unacceptable’, and last night summoned the Chinese charge d’affaires - but it was one of his officials who spoke to him after the incident.
Wang Wenbin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday: “What I want to stress is that the peace and dignity of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad must not be violated.”
Gone, gone, gone
As you might expect, given events over the last few weeks, the beleaguered Prime Minister was met with relentless heckling from the Opposition benches when she faced questions in the Commons this afternoon.
Under serious pressure to win back the trust of her party, Liz Truss clashed with Sir Keir Starmer who read out a list of her dropped economic policies. “Economic credibility – gone. And her supposed best friend the former chancellor, he’s gone as well. They’re all gone. So why is she still here?” he asked.
Ms Truss responded to the accusation she had ‘crashed the economy’ by insisting there must be ‘some reflection of economic reality’ from Labour. “The fact is that interest rates are rising across the world and the economic conditions have worsened. And we are being honest, we’re levelling with the public unlike the honourable gentleman, who simply won’t do it.”
The PM twice told MPs she is a ‘fighter, not a quitter’ - a comment TalkTV political editor Kate McCann claims was dismissed by one Tory backbencher who apparently ‘turns to their neighbour and says simply “useless”. Colleague nods’.
Despite the very obvious issues facing the UK today - rising inflation, crippling mortgage rates and soaring energy bills - Leigh MP James Grundy had something else on his mind at today's PMQs.
The Tory MP used the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister a question about Leigh Centurions.
"Will my right honourable friend congratulate Leigh Centurions rugby league team for their recent promotion to the Super League, bringing millions to the local economy and furthermore, would she also guarantee that our excellent women's football team, including Ella Toone from my local constituency, will receive the No 10 reception that they so deserve?" he asked.
Mancs have reacted, as they often do.
Reporter Ashlie Blakey has been compiling their thoughts here.
Meanwhile, Hazel Grove MP William Wragg has submitted a letter of no confidence in Liz Truss.
Speaking during the opposition day debate in the Commons, Mr Wragg said he would like to vote with Labour on the upcoming fracking motion, but he is not going to as he would lose the whip and his position as a vice-chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs.
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Weather etc
- Thursday: Overcast changing to light rain by late morning. 15C.
- Road closures: 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 timetables operating on Transpennine Express and Avanti West Coast due to shortage of train crews.
- Trivia question: Which Manc pop group had a Number 2 hit with their song 'Flowers' in April 2000?
Manchester headlines
Strikes: The rail workers' union has announced three more strike days next month after it said Network Rail had performed a 'u-turn' on an improved pay deal. It means rail travellers will be hit by strikes on November 3,5 and 7. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said the strikes have been announced after Network Rail 'attempted to impose drastic changes in working practices on their staff'. Network Rail claims the RMT 'seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer'.
Gathered: Police broke up a crowd of around '100' young people who gathered in The Arndale after a teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery on Monday. Footage appears to show youngsters gathered outside the Ernest Jones shop on the first floor of the centre, with officers and security staff then intervening. Five teenagers were arrested, police said.
Cancellations: TransPennine Express has come under fire from angry passengers after announcing the cancellation of 55 trains on Wednesday, 'as a result of ongoing issues'. The operator posted a long list of the cancelled trains on its website - with the vast majority of them affecting Manchester Piccadilly railway station. The operator announced a temporary timetable would come into force on September 12 leading to reduced services, blaming 'higher-than-normal sickness levels and ongoing industrial relations issues' together with a 'training backlog as a direct result of Covid'.
Worth a read
Seven tower blocks stand proud and tall over Rochdale. Minutes away from the town centre, the 'Seven Sisters' were a feat of engineering when completed in the 1960s. But campaigners and residents say the estate, officially known as College Bank, has been in a state of 'managed decline' since Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) took control of the council's housing stock in 2012 - despite RBH saying they are investing £20m on improvement works across the estate.
There are plans to demolish four of the towers and though many have agreed to move, some are refusing.
Reporter Lyell Tweed visited the estate and spoke to locals.
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: Sweet Female Attitude.
