Dear readers — welcome to your briefing. Today you’re hearing from Jack D and Lucy, the better half of the Mill team, as Jack Walton and Ophira have jetted off to — of all places — the Kremlin.
The fortified complex of Russian governance, you ask? The ornate nerve centre of Putin’s war-machine? No. It’s a hotel in Turkey.
To bring you up to speed, every few months, Jack and Ophira — in the grip of a kind of twin madness — hyperfixate on some niche topic. Last year it was Broadstairs Folk Week and the variance of offensive morris dancers and family bands that descend upon it every year. This time round, it’s an all-inclusive hotel in Antalya called the Kremlin Palace, bizarrely centred around a model of St Basil the Blessed Cathedral. We try not to ask too many questions, but we hope they have fun in the sun.
Anyway, before he set off we squeezed one last piece out of Jack: a deep-dive into Mark Goldbridge, the most famous Manchester United fan in the world. You can read that below.
Jack Walton
But now, on with your briefing, with updates on Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner’s “secret summit”, the future of Arndale Market’s beloved traders, a far-right march in the city centre and the latest piece of MEN “premium content” that we’ve published for free. Oh, and a week of weather that would rival that of any questionably themed hotel on the Turkish Riviera…
The iconic Buxton International Festival returns
This summer, the internationally renowned BIF returns to the peaks for another stellar year. For almost 50 years, BIF has brought world class performances to Buxton, including opera, music, literature and jazz. It's a unique chance to get out of the city and into the stunning scenery of the high peak for a cultural summer escape. Eat, drink, watch and be merry, then hop on the direct train back to Manchester.
This year's programme includes La traviata, The Merry Widow, Manchester’s own The Hallé and an appearance from Guardian columnist John Crace. With 160 events from 9th to 26th July, you're bound to find something you'll love. Tickets are on sale now, to grab yours click below.
Are Burnham and Rayner really plotting against Starmer?
Andy Burnham was spotted outside Angela Rayner’s house over the weekend, for what has been dubbed a “secret summit”. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer fights to stay in No.10 after possibly misleading MPs on the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. And to think, the meeting came less than a week after the trio were all smiles at the launch of new breakfast clubs in Greater Manchester. Friends like these eh?
It’s been well-documented that Burnham and Rayner have eyes for the premiership, with Burnham being blocked from standing in February’s by-election by Starmer, who apparently suspected a leadership challenge. “They will be carving it up,” a senior MP told The Sun. “If Andy endorsed Angela for leader that will sway a lot of MPs to back her.” Labour sources we have spoken to are less convinced, seeing that Burnham and Rayner can't both be leader.
“People shouldn’t assume them two are in love with each other,” one party source said. “They’re not.” There also remains a few practical points: first, the party’s National Executive Committee, which decides who gets through the process to become an MP or prime minister, remains the same one that blocked Burnham in February. Second: Rayner is still under investigation by HMRC following her stamp duty debacle. And third: whoever gets in will still face a very challenging national picture, with high taxes, low trust in government, and an increasingly polarised public. “Doesn’t matter who’s in power, those things will still exist,” the party source tells us. “People ought to be careful what they wish for.”
Meanwhile, Hannah Spencer, whose social media followers are regularly treated to shots of her four greyhounds (Forest, Judy, Olive and Will), says culture secretary Lisa Nandy is stereotyping the working-class’ relationship with dog-racing. Nandy said in parliament that the industry “brings positive benefits to the United Kingdom” and “joy to a lot of people.” Spencer, the Greens’ MP for Gorton and Denton, has interpreted that as Nandy believing “working class people don’t care about dogs or each other”. Sources close to Nandy rejected that notion. “We have absolutely no plans whatsoever to ban greyhound racing,” Nandy, who is MP for Wigan, said. “We appreciate the joy that it brings to many, many people in our country and the economic contribution that it makes.”
Police presence stepped up for Britain First march
Just two months after Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First, led hundreds through Manchester’s streets for a march for "remigration and mass deportations", the far-right party returned on Saturday afternoon. A counter protest by a coalition of anti-racism groups was held in Piccadilly Gardens with around 1,000 demonstrators in total, and hundreds of police officers, in attendance. Police presence was stepped up after February’s protest, where 11 arrests were made and pockets of violence broke out. Police reported three arrests on Saturday: a male counter protestor failing to provide details after a request that he remove his face covering, another male counter protester arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, and a woman arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace (though it’s unclear whether she was part of either demonstration). But overall, GMP said that “the vast majority of both sides caused no issues for our officers.”
‘We need to be rewarding local businesses, not penalising them’
There was an outpouring of support for the traders on Arndale Market last week, after we revealed that they are having their leases discontinued by Manchester City Council. The traders, some of whom have been on the market for decades, told us that the short-term licenses the council was proposing to replace their leases with would leave them in a very precarious position. Some said the offer of licenses would cause them to close altogether. “We need to be rewarding local businesses, not penalising them,” said one reader on Instagram. “MCC should be doing more to nurture and protect this city's small independent, local businesses,” said another. We have been in further contact with the council since, and a spokesperson said it would be contacting traders today to “provide more detail and assurance”. We’ll update you when we know more.
Stormtroopers, David Bowie lookalikes and local MPs: Manchester Marathon 2026
Roughly 42,000 participants and 150,000 spectators descended on Manchester’s streets yesterday for the Manchester Marathon, with runners snaking through Old Trafford, Altrincham and Chorlton before finishing in front of the University of Manchester. David Bowie and Freddie Mercury lookalikes lined the route to keep people’s spirits high, while Batman, the Joker, a pink stormtrooper and Gorton and Denton MP Hannah Spencer were among those competing. Callum Hall took the men’s wheelchair title in 01:47:35 , Yohan Lidove won the men’s able-bodied category in 02:15:19, and Naomi Robinson took home gold for the women’s in 02:36:56. There was also a Guiness World Record breaker in attendance: Stockport teacher Madhusmita Jena ran the fastest marathon in a saree, with a time of 03:45:39. She told ITV: “My initial motivation for running in a saree was to represent Indian culture and heritage, but it’s since blossomed into promoting how women can run in whatever makes them feel most comfortable.”
The MEN is at it again
It’s been nearly three months since we carried out the pettiest protest in UK media, republishing “MEN Premium journalism” for free. We promised that anytime the MEN paywalled journalism by Local Democracy Reporters (LDRs), we'd post it on our site. The LDR scheme is publicly funded, public-interest journalism paid for by the BBC licence fee. All reporting produced by LDRs is sent to relevant local news outlets for free (including us), and those outlets can choose whether they publish it. The MEN’s editor Sarah Lester said “LDRs are managed, commissioned, and their copy edited by the MEN desk,” but their work remains publicly funded, and that means you’ve already paid for it.
This time, we refer you to this piece on Oldham independent councillor Kamran Ghafoor, who we reported on last month after he made headlines following the dramatic collapse of a building he owns. No need to put yourself out of pocket though; if you’re curious, you can read the free version here.
Open newsroom
Do you live in Altrincham, or frequent the area for nights out? Do you know much about the recent closure of Traders Tiki Bar in Goose Green, or have anything to say about the violence that has blighted the town’s nightlife in recent years? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
You can also now contact us via Whatsapp! Hit the button below and send us any and all story tips - all of our Whatsapps are treated in confidence
Home of the week
The interior of this three-bedroom detached house in Bolton leaves a little to be desired, but that brook in the back makes it all feel worth it. On the market for £500,000.
This week’s weather
Some good news from our local weatherman Martin Miles: “One of the best weeks of the year so far,” and also a stark warning: “don’t forget your suncream.”
Tuesday 🌤️ Hazy at first, then dry and sunny, although feeling rather chilly in a moderate east-north-easterly breeze. Max 14°c.
Wednesday ☀️ Breezy & dry with an abundance of pleasant spring sunshine. Max 17°c.
Thursday ☀️ Warm, dry & sunny with light winds. Max 18°c.
Friday ☀️ Sunny & warm with just a light breeze. Max 19°c.
Weekend ☀️ Remaining dry & settled with plenty of warm spring sunshine. Temperatures peaking in the high teens.
What our writers are up to this week
📚 Apparently, World Book Night is this Thursday, and Lucy can’t think of a more apposite venue to celebrate in than Central Library. From 7pm till 9pm there’ll be book-related quizzes, prizes and "surprise challenges”. Beer, wine, cake and coffee will be flowing from the cafe too — get tickets here.
🎨 Jack is heading to the Whitworth for its first exhibition dedicated to Japanese prints for over a century. Beneath the Great Wave explores how traditional woodblock prints have shaped the way we see nature, and it’s free to attend — find out more here.
🏢 While it’s not this week per say, we’d love you to mark your calendar for Tuesday 12th May. We’ll be at the brand-new Colony King Street location to discuss whether Manchester’s workers are coming back to the office, and how the city works these days. We’ve got a panel of experts and academics, and the event is exclusive to Mill readers. Tickets here.
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