Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak will battle against Foreign Secretary Liz Truss after grassroots favourite Penny Mordaunt was eliminated from the running in the leadership race.

This now leaves the pair to battle for the votes of their fellow MP's later this year to secure their place as leader of the Conservative Party, following the resignation of current Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month.

In a statement after the vote, Ms Truss said:

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"I would like to thank each and every one of my colleagues who have supported me throughout this stage of this contest. I would also like to pay tribute to every candidate who stood for the leadership. Each of them has contributed enormously to the Conservative Party and to public life.

"I am excited to now take to the country to make the case to the Conservative Party about my bold new economic plan that will cut taxes, grow our economy and unleash the potential of everyone in our United Kingdom.

Thanks to everyone for all your hard work. We go forward together."

 

Meanwhile, a statement made by Mr Sunak's campaign team, said:

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"This is a really strong result with a clear mandate from MPs.

"He will now work night and day to get the mandate from the wider Conservative party family to beat Labour, protect the Union and seize the opportunities of Brexit."

 

Mr Sunak came in first place in this round with 137 votes with Ms Truss gaining the support of 113 MP's and Ms Mordaunt coming in third place with 105 votes.

However, currently polling among the 160,000+ rank and file members suggest that in the final vote he is falling behind Ms Truss.

Boris Johnson is to quit his role as Tory leader after further resignations and calls for him to go this morning.

Mr Johnson informed Graham Brady who is the chair of the 1922 committee of his resignation, putting the wheels in motion for a party leadership battle which will see his replacement selected before the party conference in October.

His resignation came after a mass exodus of Tory ministers sparked by news that the PM had appointed the now disgraced MP Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip, despite being aware of a formal complaint against him in 2019.

On Wednesday 29 June, the MP Chris Pincher went to a private members' club in London. In his words, he "drank far too much" and "embarrassed himself".

He was accused of groping two men, which led to flurry of allegations, some dating back years. It set off a chain of events that ended with the prime minister's downfall.

Since Tuesday 5 July there has been a mass exodus of staff from prominent party roles, sparked by the resignations of the then chancellor Rishi Sunak and the now former Health Secretary Savid Javid.

Both men wrote scathing resignation letters calling for the PM to step down, since then over 60 Tory MP's have followed suit, with the recently appointed replacement Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi being the latest to go public with his calls for Boris to go.

The PM had remained defiant, vowing to ride out the storm and remain as leader but that was made increasingly impossible as staff continued to quit this morning, news of his intention to stand down early this morning as the intense pressure from his own MP's forced his hand.

In June the Prime Minister’s authority was substantially undermined by a confidence vote which saw 41% of his own MPs withdraw their support.

As late as just last night Mr Johnson wielded his axed by sacking his Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove after he came forward to call for his resignation.

A No 10 source told the BBC at the time:

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"You can't have a snake who is not with you on any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to go."

Meanwhile, opposition leader, Sir Kier Starmer said that the PM's resignation is 'Good News' for the country but added that change at the top was not enough and that we need a General Election and a change of government. 

He said:

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“It is good news for the country that Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister. But it should have happened long ago. He was always unfit for office. He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale. And all those who have been complicit should be utterly ashamed.

“The Tory Party have inflicted chaos upon the country during the worst cost of living crisis in decades and they cannot now pretend they are the ones to sort it out. They have been in power for 12 years.

“The damage they have done is profound. 12 years of economic stagnation, 12 years of declining public services, 12 years of empty promises. Enough is enough.

“We don’t need to change the Tory at the top - we need a proper change of government. We need a fresh start for Britain.”

 

Boris Johnson has survived a confidence vote on his ability to lead his party and the country, after it was triggered by rebel MP's looking to oust him over what has come to be known as 'Party Gate' which they say is critically damaging to the party.    

However 148 MP's came out to vote against him with just 211 voting in his favour.

The PM also took a major blow this evening after Roger Penrose who was appointed as the governments anti-corruption tsar quit, stating that it was clear the PM had broken ministerial code and should go.

For almost two hours Tory MPs lined up to cast their vote on whether they want the PM to continue in his post, with the polls closing at 8pm.

The 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives counted the votes and chairman Sir Graham Brady announced the result at 21:00 BST this evening, confirming that Mr Johnson has retained the confidence of the majority of his MP's.   

The results of Salford’s Local Election for 2022 have been announced with the Liberal Democrats Chris Twells and Alex Warren taking seats in Orsdall and the Quays and the Conservatives taking back a seat in Worsley and Westwood Park. The only independent on the council also managed to retain his seat.

The political makeup of the council has changed and is now:

Labour 49 seats

Conservative eight seats

Liberal Democrats two seats

Independent one seat

The turnout for the election, held on Thursday 5 May, was 25.27 per cent with 47,009 votes cast.

The polls closed at 10pm on Thursday 5 May and the verification and count took place at the AJ Bell Stadium overnight.

Returning Officer Tom Stannard made the announcements in each ward which was also livestreamed for people watching at home. The final ward was announced at approximately 3.30am.

Tom said:

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“The people of Salford have had their say on who they want to represent them in their area. 

“This was a chance for local people to have their voices heard and I would like to thank all those who voted and put democracy into action.”

 

Salford is made up of 20 wards and each ward has three seats in it. At this count one seat in each ward was up for election.

For full details you can find the complete election results on the councils website.

https://www.salford.gov.uk/results

Salford councillor Andrew Walters has reportedly quit the Liberal Democrat's to go solo ahead of next months local elections in Salford, in a move which he says is in the best interests of his constituents.

He will now stand against Adam Carney who is standing for the Conservative Party, Chioma Mgbeokwere representing Labour and James Twells who will now represent the Lib Dems in the political battle for Kersal and Broughton Park.

Mr Walters was the first Liberal Democrat to take a seat on the Council since they were dramatically ousted from the city council by Labour in the 2010 elections.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has come under fire after it was revealed that he will face an investigation by a Commons committee over claims that he misled Parliament over awareness of the nature of illegal parties held at 10 Downing Street during lockdown.

Mr Johnson declared he has no concerns over the investigation as he spoke during a trip aimed at boosting trade between the UK and India.

Despite an attempt to delay a free vote, in the end it was not needed as MPs were unanimous in their decision that a committee should look into the matter.

To date, the police have issued at least 50 fines as a result of their investigations but it is expected that more will be issued within the coming months.

Mr Johnson said he was happy to face a parliamentary inquiry and that he has nothing to hide, despite being fined £50 as a result of a Met Police investigation into the matter earlier this month.

The committee will investigate claims that the PM lied or misled Parliament which if found to be true would mean he would be expected to resign.

Opposition leader, Labours Sir Kier Starmer said that the PM had lost the support of his own MPs and that it was time he should go.

Seventy-seven candidates have now been announced ahead of Salford elections on Thursday 5 May 2022. One councillor seat from each of Salford City Council’s 20 wards is up for election and all candidates can be viewed at https://www.salford.gov.uk/mayelections 

Candidates had a deadline of 4pm on Tuesday 5 April to submit their nomination papers.

Returning Officer Tom Stannard said:

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“The candidates have now been announced for the elections and I encourage all residents to vote. The registration deadline is Thursday 14 April and only takes five minutes and you need your national insurance number. If you’ve just turned 18, are new to Salford or recently moved to a new home, you’ll need to make sure you’re registered to vote in the May elections. Those who haven’t registered in time cannot vote in the May elections. People can register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote so make sure you have your say.

“Our polling stations will continue to have a range of covid safety measures in place but those who would prefer to stay home can apply for a postal vote at www.salford.gov.uk/postalvote until Tuesday 19 April. Alternatively you can appoint a trusted person to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote which you can apply for via www.salford.gov.uk/proxyvote until 5pm Tuesday 26 April. Your vote really matters.”

 

Councillors are elected to represent residents and their local area as well as contribute to the development of local policies in areas such as social care, housing, planning, highways, and education. This year residents can vote for one local councillor in their local ward.

The polls open at 7am on Thursday 5 May and close at 10pm.

The verification and count will begin at 10pm on Thursday 5 May. The estimated time for the first ward declaration is 2am and for the full council declaration is approximately 4am.

We have included the lists of candidates as well as polling places and election agents below. 

list-of-polling-places-5-may-2022.pdf

notice-of-election-agents-name-and-offices-5-may-2022.pdf

statement-of-persons-nominated-may-2022.pdf

The are also available via the councils website.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett has called upon the Government for guidance and extra cash to help 'cancel' a £1.8m contract with Russia's state owned GazProm which provides energy supplies to the majority of local schools and hospitals.

At the time of signing the contract was deemed to be the cheapest and most reliable (by a long way) during the procurement process, but that was before the current volatile situation in Ukraine unfolded.

Due to the impact of the recent geo-political events, the cost of gas has been vastly inflated as has the cost of fuel at the petrol pumps. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced earlier this week that sanctions on Russia will not come without impact on the UK.

The councils contract is due for renewal in June but in light of the invasion and occupation of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the council does not wish to renew its contract and fears that current legislation would force them to do so as it goes out to tender. At present there is no legislation preventing GazProm or any of its subsidiaries from putting in a bid which would have to be legally considered as enshrined in UK procurement law.

The UK is currently imposing sanctions on President Putins regime but Mayor Dennett has called for clarification on the matter due to the ongoing conflict, he has also called upon the government to inject more cash into local authorities having to deal with increasing fuel costs as a result of the crisis in Ukraine.

In ending the contract with GazProm the council would find itself having to negotiate a deal with other companies which it is feared would seek to use the ongoing situation to take advantage of local authorities as they are forced to pay more.

The Government itself has stated that it wishes to end the reliance on Russian gas as well as remove the influence of Russian backed companies within the UK.

Four new leaders have been chosen by young people in Salford to represent their interests and campaign for change.

Oliver Edwards from Eccles was elected as Youth Mayor and Paaniz Afrang from Ordsall as Deputy Youth Mayor. Both will serve one year in office.

Eleanor Holt from Cadishead and Harley Smith from Clarendon were elected as members of the national Youth Parliament to serve two years. The vote was open to all young people aged 11 to 18 in Salford.

All four will work with Salford City Council leaders, partner agencies and elected representatives from Greater Manchester and the north west to deliver their campaigns.

Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, welcomed the new team.

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“It’s vitally important we take young people’s ideas, wishes and views into account when making decisions for Salford,” he said.

“Young people make a vital contribution to our city. They are young carers, sports stars, artists, musicians, campaigners and activists, volunteers and much more. They are not just the future, they are making things happen now. 

 

Councillor John Walsh, executive support member for education and learning said council representatives were looking forward to working with them.

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“We know from the Youth Parliament Make your Mark survey that young people are most concerned about jobs and opportunities and health and wellbeing and these are key priorities for the council too.”

Improving health and wellbeing was one of Oliver Edward’s campaign priorities along with tackling knife crime while Paaniz Afrang wants to work on reducing child poverty.

MPs Eleanor Holt and Harley Smith both campaigned on supporting young people with disabilities, particularly non-visual disabilities. Eleanor is also keen to support mental health services and tackle domestic abuse.

Photo shows left to right: Jude Paterson (outgoing Member of the Youth Parliament), Rose Palmer (outgoing Young Mayor), Paaniz Afrang Deputy Youth Mayor, Eleanor Holt and Harley Smith Members of the Youth Parliament), Oliver Edwards, Youth Mayor, City Mayor Paul Dennett and Councillor John Walsh, Executive Support Member for Education and Learning. 

Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys has been appointed as the next Salford Ceremonial Mayor for the Municipal period of 2022/2023.

Her appointment was put forward after a nomination by Councillor Heather Fletcher which was seconded by Councillor Maria Brabiner  and supported by Councillor Robin Garrido.

Ann-Marie will take over the role from outgoing Mayor John Mullen, who performed his duties admirably having raised thousands of pounds during his tenure for his chosen charities, The Andrew Cooke Music Award Trust and Memorial Fund, The Salfordian Hotel in Southport and Salford By The Sea (Prestatyn Jam Butty Camp).

John has served as Labour Councillor for Barton ward since 2004.

The Ceremonial Mayor is responsible for carrying out civic duties on behalf of the council. This is a different role to the position of the Elected City Mayor which is currently held by Labours Paul Dennett.

Additionally, Councillor Gina Reynolds was nominated as Deputy Ceremonial Mayor after a proposal by Councillor John Warmisham, Seconded by Councillor Bill Hinds and supported by Councillor Robin Garrido.

THE MAYORS of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region will visit Ireland later this month as part of a joint mission aimed at strengthening trade and cooperation between the North West and Ireland.

From 28-29 March, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram will be in Dublin for a series of meetings and events with political leaders, trade officials, and businesses from Britain and Ireland.

The Mayors will also be accompanied by a Department for International Trade (DIT) delegation of 15 Liverpool and Greater Manchester exporting businesses, and DIT Minister for Exports Mike Freer will himself join the group in Dublin to support the initiative. 

The Mayors will hold meetings with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney and Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy, and take part in a roundtable with the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.

As part of the joint mission, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the DIT will commit to further efforts to deepen cooperation between Ireland and the North West. This is set to include regular visits each year, collaborating on shared priority areas including climate action, developing trade links, and building on sporting and cultural links.

Exports of goods to Ireland from the North West amounted to almost £2bn in 2019, with Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region accounting for around half of this total. The visitor economy in both city-regions is worth around £10bn, with Irish visitors among the most frequent, while Ireland is one of the North West’s biggest tourism destinations.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: 

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“I am so pleased that Mayor Steve Rotheram and I will be leading this joint mission to Ireland and Northern Ireland later this month.

“The ties that bind the island of Ireland and the North West are deeply embedded in our communities and our places. This visit will be all about taking that relationship forward, and looking at those shared priority areas – like climate action, digital innovation, and culture and sport – where we can work more closely together for the benefit of our people and our economies.

“Greater Manchester is a global city-region, and we recognise that many of the challenges that we face are global in scale. We have always sought to cooperate with our friends and partners around the world, and as the UK enters into new trading relationships we are determined to put the North West on the front foot to take advantage of those opportunities.”

 

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said: 

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“The Liverpool City Region has always been an open and outward-facing place and we have no closer friend than our ally over the water. Ireland has a special place in the hearts of many of the 1.6m people who call our region home, so much so that we’re often referred to as Ireland’s 33rd county!

“I’m really excited by this historic trade delegation that Andy and I are leading to help the North West to forge a stronger, more prosperous future for people on both sides of the Irish Sea. We not only have a rich and intertwined past, but a shared set of future priorities too. On renewable energy, trade, investment, culture, innovation and much, much more I’m looking forward to working with colleagues to help our region grow.

“Ireland is a really important trading partner for our area. More than 600 local businesses export over £300m of goods, with a further 400 importing too. It’s a fantastic foundation, but I want us to do better. I hope that this delegation marks another important chapter in our relationship with Ireland.”

 

British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnson said: 

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“I’m delighted to welcome the Minister and the Mayors to Ireland. There are strong links between the North West of England and this country, which the Embassy wants to help bolster, including as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and our commitment to developing the trade and wider relationship with Ireland, a crucial partner for all of the UK.”

Ambassador Adrian O’Neill, Ambassador of Ireland to the UK, said: 

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“I am delighted that this visit by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotherham to Dublin will take place later this month. The visit presents an excellent opportunity to celebrate the longstanding ties of people, trade and friendship between Ireland and the North-West of England and to broaden and deepen our existing connections. We are very proud to have opened a new Irish Consulate General for the North of England last year and welcome the enhanced links that are already flowing from the on the ground presence of our Consul General Sarah Mangan and her team."

Sarah Mangan, Consul General of Ireland for the North of England, said: 

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“I am delighted to be accompanying Mayor Rotheram and Mayor Burnham on their visit to Ireland. Their extensive programme, covering so many sectors, and with a number of high-level meetings, is a reflection of the depth of cooperation that currently exists between Ireland and the North West of England, as well as of the opportunities that the Consulate General hopes to build on in the future.”

The mission will be followed by a visit to Northern Ireland on 30 March, where the Mayors will meet with the Lord Mayor of Belfast and take part in events focused on joint working in priority areas like net zero action, energy, transport, and skills.

Greater Manchester has invited Belfast to attend a Decarbonisation Summit in the city-region in June, at which the Liverpool City Region will also be represented.

Last year saw the opening of the Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England, based in Manchester. Covering the whole of the North from Liverpool and Greater Manchester to Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East, the Consulate is a reflection of the importance placed on developing the relationship between Ireland and city-regions like Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

The Labour Party has appointed Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley as shadow minister for arts and civil society, after the position was left vacant for three months due to the resignation of Rachael Maskell who quit the team in December to enable her to vote against laws requiring NHS staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. 

Barbara has sat on the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee for the past 2-years.

Upon hearing of her appointment she said charities had a role in creating “a better, more prosperous Britain”. 

She will join the shadow ministerial team which is led by Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary.

Powell said Keeley would bring “a strong track record of working with charity and voluntary sectors” to the job.

A 'delighted' Barbara Keeley, said:

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“Charities are a valued and vital part of our national life, working to improve communities, offer people opportunities, and bring our nation together,” she added. 

She criticised the government over its treatment of charities during the pandemic and said she looks forward to working with the sector.
 
“Throughout the pandemic, civil society went above and beyond to support the response to Covid but after a decade of Conservative government neglect, the social sector has been pared back and pushed out, while being left to pick up the pieces of the damage this has caused. 
 
“Labour wants to see a thriving third sector that works to support our public services helping people whom statutory bodies find hard to reach. Civil society are key partners in delivering preventative public services and in creating a better, more prosperous Britain where workers, families and the sector are secure. I look forward to working together to achieve these aims.”

 

Nigel Farage's campaign group "Vote Power Not Poverty" has had a planned upcoming rally in Bolton cancelled after the venue stepped in to disassociated itself with the event and its organisers.

The rally had been planned to take place at the Bolton Whites Hotel later this month but Bolton Wanderers FC which own the venue have now pulled the plug.

A statement issued by the club said:

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“A 'Vote Power Not Poverty' Rally scheduled for later this month at the Bolton Whites Hotel will not be happening.

“The event has been cancelled by BWFC and is not something the club and business wishes to be associated with.”

 

The former UKIP/Brexit Party leader and architect of Brexit had hoped to use the Bolton Rally as a springboard for a series of events planned to take place across the country later this year.

The campaign group has claimed that plans for Net Zero emission policies would be "Life Changing", brining a huge impact and burden on the country.

However environmental campaigners have accused Mr Farage of being 'Net Crazy' and nothing more than a mouth piece and lobbyist for the environmentally damaging fossil fuel industry.

Alongside Farage, Reform Party leader Richard Tice was set to appear at the event.

A statement issued by Vote Power Not Poverty said:

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“We all care about the environment and want cleaner air.

“We all want to do our bit. But Westminster’s Net Zero is the wrong bit, at the wrong price, in the wrong timeframe.”

 

With rising fuel costs and Russia threatening to turn off the Gas supply to Europe and the UK, Mr Farage has been accused of trying to capitalise on the turbulent times.

The rally will now seek another venue.

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett has sent a heartfelt message of support for Ukraine on behalf of Salford and it's city council.

In the letter he (The Mayor) urged President Vladimir Putin to end hostilities and to focus on seeking a peaceful way forward.

Delegates from Russia and Ukraine are set to meet today for peace talks on the border of Belarus, however Ukrainian officials are not optimistic.

In the coming days the Civic Centre in Swinton will be adorned with both the Union flag and the flag of Ukraine as a show of support for Ukrainians living within the city.

The Civic Centre has already been lit with the Ukraine national flag  colours of yellow and blue.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stood in Parliament and declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin will 'Stand Condemned' in the eyes of the world and of history as he outlined 'the most savage and severe' sanctions against Russia.

Amongst those sanctions was a ban on Russian airline Aeroflot which had earlier in the day seen an end to a £40m sponsorship deal with Manchester United. The company will not longer see it's fleet welcomed in UK airspace.

There were also asset freezes on a number of Russian banks and over 100 individuals with financial links to the regime. 

Trade and export bans were put into effect on a wide range of tech equipment and the PM announced an intention to sever the ability of Russian banks to access the SWIFT payment system based out of Belgium which handles payment requests and messages between 11,000 financial institutions across the world, delivering 42 million messages per day in 2021.

Also targeted were a number of Russian defence companies such as Rostec which exports over £10bn of arms annually.

PM Johnson said that sanctions would also be placed upon five of Putin's closest allies within his inner circle.

Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said:

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We are inflicting devastating economic pain on Putin and Russia following its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Today’s unprecedented package of sanctions decisively delivers the highest economic cost we have ever imposed on the Kremlin.

 

Stating clearly that Russia is now an international pariah on the world stage.

Other countries have followed suit with their own economic sanctions put into place, with most notably Germany pulling the plug on the Nord 2 pipeline between Russia and Europe.

Mr Johnson called on an end to European reliance on Russian oil and gas exports, saying:

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"Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure."

Heavy Russian bombing continues this evening with reports that Chernobyl is now in the hands of their troops, it is unclear if any damage to the integrity of the reactor cover has occurred with shells falling close-by.

The PM concluded his speech by re-iterating that the UK stood with the Ukraine in its moment of 'agony'.

A review of parliamentary boundary changes within Bolton could see Walkden form the newly proposed constituency of Bolton South and Walkden.

The new constituency would be formed by altering the existing Bolton South East boundary and the incorporation of Walkden.

Walkden itself would still remain under the control of Salford City Council.

People in the area are being asked to have their say on the 2023 boundary review proposals which aim to make parliamentary seats more equal in size of the electorate.

Bolton Council’s returning officer, Chief Executive Tony Oakman, said:

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“Public feedback is an essential part 2023 Boundary Review, giving local people a say in how constituencies are linked to local communities.

“There are many ways to take part and I urge as many people as possible to have their say.”

 

A map of the proposed constituency can be found here: Bolton-South-and-Walkden-BC.pdf

Comments can be left by visiting the bcereviews.org.uk website on the link provided, then typing in your post code: North West | BCE Consultation Portal (bcereviews.org.uk)

Additionally you can lodge comments via email or letter as well as at public meetings to be held.

The new round of consultation will run until April 4th.

Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey has won the backing of her Constituency Labour Party once more, after being unanimously reselected to stand as MP for the party via a democratic 'Trigger Vote' by all 10 branches which make up the CLP as well as Trade Union Members and Affiliates.

In a statement released via her Twitter account she said:

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“To once again have the trust of members, Trade Unions and affiliates to be their representative in parliament is truly humbling.”

She went on to say:

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"With over 10 years of a Tory Government continuing to devastate the lives of people across Salford and Eccles, I am determined to fight for a Labour Government and the truly progressive policies needed to provide the quality of live everyone in Salford and Eccles deserves."

Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, was among many who congratulated her upon being reselected by saying it was 'great news'.

The MP once stood for party leadership to no avail in 2020 against her then rival and now party current leader Sir Kier Starmer, who famously dismissed her as shadow education secretary months later.

Greater Manchester has laid out its ambitions to harness the power of technology and spark a new digital revolution which will connect people, businesses and communities – firmly establishing our region as the UK’s number one digital city.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says a landmark summit to be held in July will stake out the city region’s claim to be the UK’s tech leader and will set out a bold programme of skills and infrastructure development. It will bring together Greater Manchester’s tech trailblazers and local people to shape a vision for a genuinely smart city region where technology is used as a vital part of the solution to the biggest issues we face in society. 

He has also announced that Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Council, will be the portfolio lead for Digital City Region in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority cabinet.

Mayor Andy Burnham said:

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“I want Greater Manchester to be a digital city with a difference – one with a bold digital economy which actively encourages businesses to invest and grow, and also one where technology is used to deliver positive change, from connecting young people with opportunities, to tackling social problems such as homelessness. This bold vision places the needs of people firmly at the heart of technological innovation.

“We’re already ahead of the game on this. Right here in Greater Manchester we are on the digital frontier with some of the most cutting-edge tech firms in the world.  This gives us a remarkable opportunity to take that expertise and innovation, and work with local people to create a smart digital future which has a unique Greater Manchester stamp.

“We want to fuse technological advancement with culture, ethics, communities and places to build a world which is connected, creative and cooperative, and a modern and prosperous Greater Manchester where no-one is left behind.

“I don’t want Greater Manchester to be just a smart city – I want it to be the smartest city.”

To ensure the summit is industry-led, Andy has enlisted the support of digital leaders in Greater Manchester to help drive the plans forward, including:

Sandy Lindsay MBE, Founder and Chair of leading communications consultancy Tangerine, and founder of The Juice Academy, the UK's first industry-led social media apprenticeship programme

Lawrence Jones MBE, Founder and CEO of UKFast, the largest privately-owned web hosting provider in the UK

Katie Gallagher, Managing Director of Manchester Digital, the independent body created by Greater Manchester's digital community to represent and champion it

Kirsty Styles, Head of Talent and Skills at Tech North, a government-backed initiative charged with accelerating the growth of the digital business sector in the North of England.

Sandy Lindsay said:

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“We have a new mayor who says he wants to engage with the digital industry, and genuinely listen to what we have to say. This creates a great opportunity for us to build on the success we have already seen in Greater Manchester and continue to nurture an environment where digital can thrive, for the benefit of not just our industry, but the people of Greater Manchester as a whole.

“It’s fair to say that politics leaves many of us cold and we can be a little sceptical. What makes this summit so important is that it gives us the chance to hold Andy to his word, and also test how serious we all are about building a Greater Manchester which has a highly-connected, skilled workforce and wider population.”

Lawrence Jones said:

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“Greater Manchester has an incredible thriving tech community. UKFast is one of a number of local start-ups with clients all across the globe. It’s rapidly becoming a centre for excellence for ecommerce and tech with businesses like the AO, Hut Group, Boohoo, ForeverUnique, LateRooms and many more choosing the region as home.

“Last year we had more than 12,000 job applications at UKFast alone, which illustrates how talented people are applying in their droves from all across the UK for careers in Greater Manchester. Our city region is rapidly becoming a magnet for super-geeks and tech talent. With Andy Burnham's incredible vision, I can see our tech aspirations coming to life. There's an air of confidence here that feels very similar to how it was when I first arrived back when the music industry boomed.” 

The summit will be held on 6 July at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

It will showcase some of the stunning examples of the digital sector in Greater Manchester doing amazing, innovative and inspiring things, with an open dialogue with these leading figures about how to build on the success of the city region to have an even greater impact.

As well as bringing together those digital frontiersmen and women who are setting the agenda for digital inclusion, members of the public will also be invited to attend to demonstrate that everyone is welcome on the digital journey.

As Andy unveiled the plans for the digital summit, he also announced that Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Council, would take on the Digital City Region portfolio in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority cabinet. As well as being National Vice-Chair of Co-operative Network, Councillor Farnell has a significant experience in journalism and communications.

Councillor Richard Farnell said:

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“Greater Manchester has a track record in innovation and doing things differently, from the birth of the Co-operative movement in Rochdale, to the invention of the Baby computer at the University of Manchester. In the digital age, our ambition, drive and expertise means we can lead the UK and build further our thriving digital sector for the benefit of all our citizens. I look forward to working with our tech sector to drive this vital work forward.”

Andy added: “Richard’s distinguished background in communications, along with his great connections and forward-thinking approach, means he is ideally-placed to work with our digital sector to build on the success of our city region, and turn our vision into reality.”

 

You can register for the digital summit at https://digitalgm.eventbrite.co.uk

Greater Manchester’s digital and creative economy – key facts

There are 7,500 – 8,000 digital and creative businesses in Greater Manchester

More than 54,000 people are employed in the sector

They generate more than £3bn in economic output for the conurbation, making Greater Manchester home to the largest digital and creative cluster outside London

There are 15,000 creative, digital and IT students at the region’s four universities

Nearly 1,600 tech start-ups formed in Manchester in 2016

Greater Manchester is in the top 20 European digital cities

Our operational costs are 40% lower than London         

After an initial stop off at a slightly lesser known City (namely Manchester), Corbyn headed to the real Labour heartland of Salford Precinct? (It used to have a market y'know) to be greeted by a large crowd which had assembled patiently and conveniently for me, in front of the hot dog trailer.

Amongst that crowd was none other than Labour City Mayor Paul Dennett who was happily mingling with both party members and locals, whilst giving interviews to more or less anyone who asked him for one. 

Paul seemed to be enjoying himself and from the amount of people coming over to shake his hand and speak to him I think its safe to say he was in his element.

Eventually Jeremy turned up (fashionably late) to rousing applause and proceeded to take his place on the podium (Concrete Stump), along with Paul and Salford MP / loyal supporter and confidant Rebecca Long Bailey. 

Echoing his speech earlier in Manchester, Corbyn outlined the key areas of the Labour manifesto which he hopes will tempt voters to come out in support of the party in the elections this coming June.

The general message was 'For the Many, Not the Few'. Which I am pretty much sure was also a line used in a Star Trek film but it was a good one and it seemed to be well received.

Jeremy told the crowd that he knew the scale of what they had to do, and that it was up to Labour to reach out to the sceptical and undecided in society.

Spock Corbyn went on to tell them how Britain was the sixth richest country in the world and that the wealthiest in society benefited far more than the workers who were being held back by the governments crippling austerity measures.

Those who were present seemed to be lapping up his words and were cheering loudly at the end of his speech, however not all present were convinced he is the man for the job. 

A few who were passing through from Tesco to the Precinct were bemused by it all and one lady said she had no idea who he was as she doesn't follow politics.

A man at the back of the crowd shouted loudly that he was 'Not Labour' and that 'Labour no longer represented the people'. He was quickly challenged by those around him with one person asking if he would prefer to have Tony Blair back.

Over all the mood from the crowd was enthusiastically buoyant, most people I spoke too agreed that it was a long steep climb to get Labour back into power; but were adamant that it could be done and that it was achievable.

Others however were not too sure that Labour could pull back its losses over such a short time frame. "The news media are clearly biased, just look at the crowd assembled and listen to the words Jeremy is speaking and then go home tonight and watch a totally fabricated version of it on telly" said Dan from Bolton who had travelled especially to see Corbyn's speech.

Love him or loath him, Jeremy certainly polarises views not only amongst voters but from those within his party, its safe to say his rise to the top has not come without its challenges or those who have tried to derail his leadership.

But here he is and according to press reports here he is staying as apparently he has no intention of quitting should Labour loose the coming election.

And then, as swiftly as he had arrived, like a bat out of hell he was gone. A quick chat with those in the crowds and a whole lot of hand shaking, Jeremy hoped back onto his bright red battle bus and headed off on the next steps on his campaign trail. Two other rock solid safe seats, Ashton and Wythenshawe.

Video Copyright: Daniel Hewitt @DanielHewittITV