Immigration detention centres have no place in Manchester or the UK

Refugee Week takes place every year across the UK, and is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourage a better understanding between communities. This year on it’s 20th anniversary it ran from 18 to 24 June, yet over this same 20 years […]

The light and dark of Manchester Day 2018

This time last week, thousands of people had descended into the streets of Manchester to celebrate Manchester Day 2018 as a parade made its way down Deansgate then onto Albert Square. At this fantastic annual event, wonderful sights and sounds could be seen and heard all around the city centre and beyond. The floats gleamed […]

The Spider’s Web – how Britain helps the wealthy avoid tax globally

‘The Spiders Web: Britain’s Second Empire’ documents Britain’s central role in creating and orchestrating a web of offshore tax havens that help the rich and powerful across the world, avoid their obligations to society, to build up ever greater piles of wealth in companies incorporated in British Crown Dependencies such as Jersey, or Overseas Territories […]

The people of Manchester Day 2018

On Sunday, people from across Manchester saw the city celebrated through a day of art, music, food and fun. Manchester Day 2018 was the perfect picture of the city’s great talent, overwhelming creativity and diverse cultures. Once again Manchester stood together, crowding the city centre streets to get a glance of the loud and colourful parade. […]

SpyCops in Lush shops divides public opinion

Lush made a bold move with their recent #SpyCops campaign – bold enough to enrage a section of the public who saw the campaign as an attack on the integrity of all police officers. This pressure eventually led to some #Spycops window displays being taken down – which proves they hit a nerve, but perhaps […]

Wythenshawe MP backs Manchester lawyer calling for end to legal aid cuts after being paid £255 for seven months work

Guest Article from The Wythenshawe Reporter: Catriona McLauglin, a solicitor advocate, based in Manchester says criminal lawyers are leaving the profession because of the cuts, denying access to justice to some of the most vulnerable people accused of crimes. And the independent body which represents solicitors, the Law Society, who are mounting a legal challenge to […]

Defying the council, activists rename street after Ahmed Mansoor – an Emirati human rights defender sentenced to ten years in jail

A bid by human rights activists to rename a street after Ahmed Mansoor was refused by Manchester city council. When Mansoor was jailed for ten years in the United Arab Emirates for tweeting about human rights abuses in his country, the activists decided to rename the street themselves, with an unofficial mayor doing the honours. […]

We stand together – do we really?

Just over a year ago, 22 people lost their lives and 120 were injured at the Manchester Arena Attack. It was a horrific hate driven act of mass murder, and my heart goes out to everybody affected. One year on, 15,000 people gathered in Albert Square to pay their respects. The power and energy created […]