The Mancunian Way: 'There is no magic wand'

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There were no big surprises when Labour unveiled its general election manifesto at the Co-op headquarters in Manchester. "I'm running to be a candidate to be Prime Minister, not a candidate to run the circus,” Sir Keir Starmer replied when asked why there were no new major policies.

The lack of new material in the 133 page document is in-keeping with cautious campaign Labour is determined to run. Sir Keir wants voters to look upon his party as serious and solid.

He promises to grow the economy, cut NHS waiting lists and bring down energy bills with a new state-owned clean power company. Some £8bn a year will be raised through taxes by the end of the next Parliament.

This would predominantly be paid for by closing tax loopholes, ending tax breaks for private schools and a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. And Sir Keir also commits to transferring power out of Westminster.

Here in Greater Manchester that could mean Andy Burnham gains new powers over transport, adult education and skills as well as housing and planning. But will it be enough?

Growth and wealth creation are the number one priorities, said Sir Keir. But with Labour apparently committed to sticking to existing Conservative spending plans, where is the promised change going to come from?

“There is no magic wand,” the Labour leader said as he called for patience. But in the midst of a climate crisis and after 16 years of stagnant wages and desperate cuts to public services, voters could be excused for asking if Labour has the vision to deliver the transformation this country desperately needs.

They should be thriving, instead they’re struggling

Over the next few weeks, restaurants and bars across Greater Manchester will be gearing up for what should be one of the busiest trading periods of the year. Euro 2024 kicks off tonight.

Then there’s Wimbledon and the Olympics to factor in too. Beer gardens will swell, booze will be consumed in copious amounts, and there will be a palpable buzz about town for the foreseeable.

But, right now, hospitality is struggling. “We’re used to the shuttering of restaurants and bars in the winter months, however, seeing so many close their doors in recent weeks has been jarring to say the least,” writes What’s On editor Jenna Campbell in the wake of a number of closures across Greater Manchester.

“While a number of factors come into play - whether that’s the continued aftershocks of the pandemic, increasing food, electricity and gas bills, or rising business rates and rents - it doesn’t make the trend any less concerning.”

Here Jenna takes a look at the ‘precarious’ state of hospitality and asks what can be done to help an industry that’s vital to the vibrancy of our towns and cities.

Big kick-off

Hosts Germany face Scotland tonight in Euro 2024’s opening match. England get their campaign underway against Serbia on Sunday.

Ahead of the big kick-off, we’ve put together this handy guide of all the best places in Manchester city centre.

Mass brawl

A mass brawl involving '70 to 100' people - which left a teenager with a fractured jaw - broke out outside a Manchester club during an under-16s event, police have said. Details of the incident, on May 27, at Cargo Manchester in the Printworks, have emerged after police asked the council to review Cargo’s license.

It’s been revealed that police were alerted after a dad called 999 to say a group had threatened to stab his son and were waiting outside the venue for him to leave.

Around 20 minutes later a ‘melee’ involving up to 100 youngsters had broken out. Ethan Davies has more here…

Bus boy

Meet Tobi Dekker, who at 19-years-old has just become Greater Manchester’s youngest bus driver. Tobi, who started out cleaning buses at Stockport-based transport company Belle Vue after leaving school, says his promotion is a ‘dream come true’.

And even the 5.30am starts haven’t dented his enthusiasm for his new job. "It hardly feels like I'm working when I'm on driving duties because I enjoy it so much,” he said.

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Weather etc

Weekend: More heavy rain is forecast this weekend in Greater Manchester - amid a 'sad, very showery' weather picture across the UK. You can read a full weekend weather report here…

Metrolink: There will be a replacement bus service on the Metrolink between Victoria and Piccadilly on Sunday due to engineering works.

Manchester headlines

Buggy crash: A man has been left with life-threatening injuries after a crash involving an 'off-road buggy' in Stockport. The 40-year-old was rushed to hospital after the buggy smashed into a lampost on Siddington Avenue in Adswood. More here

Taser horror: A man cut his own neck before being tasered by police in a horrifying incident outside a library in Little Hulton yesterday. First aid was given to the man at the scene before he was taken to hospital where his condition is described as stable. Read more

Closure fears: The future of a Stockport leisure centre could be at 'serious risk', a councillor has warned, after it was found to be in need of a multi-million pound refurbishment. Life Leisure Grand Central, in the town centre, needs a 'substantial eight-figure investment' to improve its 'ageing infrastructure', according to a report.

Worth a read

A quick reminder, in case it’s needed, that it’s Father’s Day on Sunday. And if you haven’t planned anything for your old man yet, Adam Maidment is here to help out.

He’s put together a list of last-minute things to do in Manchester, so you can still save the day.