Dear readers — our newsletter arrives to your inbox later than usual today, we hope for obvious reasons. The Mill team (including one Scottish member of staff who will not be named) spent the early hours of the morning with our heads between our hands, or wringing various items of clothing, while England led us on a tumultuous road to victory.
But now your briefing is served. On the menu today we have insights into who might be the running Burnham’s No.10 North operation (following our weekend read on where they might be running it from); a statement from the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel as its staff plan more strikes this week; plus an update on Green Party mayoral candidate Geraldine Coggins, who has just made the first big policy announcement of her campaign.
Before that, if you want to listen to Jack D and Ophira discuss their search to find the most suitable building to host No.10 North (criteria included bomb-proof-ness, and best spots to get lunch nearby and a pint after work), our latest podcast lets you do just that. Find it on the Spotify player below or wherever you get your podcasts here.
TfGM are carrying out tram improvement works at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar
From 13th July to 2nd August there will be:
• No trams on the Altrincham, Eccles and The Trafford Centre lines.
• No trams on the Manchester Airport and East Didsbury lines between Firswood and the city centre.
• Rochdale trams will terminate at Exchange Square.
Travelling towards the city centre? A replacement bus will call at all affected tram stops (except Pomona), terminating at Piccadilly.
Travelling away from the city centre? Head to Piccadilly and follow signs for replacement buses. Buses will depart from Whitworth Street or Aytoun Street towards your destination.
You must pay before you board the replacement bus: tap in and out at tram stops as usual, or buy a 1-day Bee Bus ticket on the Bee Network app.
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Who’s manning No.10 North?
The Times profiled Caroline Simpson — currently the CEO of the GMCA — who is expected to be put in charge of Andy Burnham’s anticipated No.10 North office as his deputy chief of staff. Over the years, Simpson, formerly CEO of Stockport Council, has been good at turning Burnham’s fantastical visions into reality. She keeps a low-profile and didn’t feature in our piece that sketched out Burnham’s inner circle. However it appears other people we identified in that piece, like GMCA strategy policy leader John Wrathmell, will also take senior roles in the Burnham government’s northern operation. Meanwhile, it was announced weeks back that Burnham’s chief of staff will be James Purnell. The former MP for Stalybridge, BBC bigwig and Burnham’s uni mate (who he plays 5-a-side with) will be running what we are presumably now calling No.10 South.
Questions remain as to whether Kevin Lee, Burnham’s closest ally for the last 15 years and gatekeeper to the mayor’s office, will get a role. And Sacha Lord, as we reported last week, is making appearances at Burnham’s events and has reportedly long-held ambitions to take an advisory role in government. What better one could there be for him than a Burnham premiership?
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Clocking off
Staff at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel went on strike for the first time last Tuesday following alleged union-busting. In March, over 30 of its staff unionised and filed a collective grievance over claims of “chronic understaffing” and “last-minute changing of rotas”. Staff allege that, since filing the grievance, management refused their request for union recognition. One staff member told The Mill at the time that they “want to make it known that [the bar and hotel] management are union busting and it’s abhorrent because we aren’t asking for anything radical. We’re just asking to be respected as workers.” A spokesperson at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel said they were aware of concerns raised and “take these matters seriously,” and that there were channels through which staff could raise concerns. That doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere, seeing staff went on strike three times last week, and have plans to strike all this weekend too. Know more about this story? Get in touch here.
A bit of Greenhousing
The Green Party’s mayoral candidate, Geraldine Coggins, has made her first big policy announcement since the race began: 20,000 new homes in Greater Manchester. If she were mayor, she says 10,000 of these would be refurbished, while up to 10,000 more publicly owned homes would be built. To deliver such a promise, Coggins proposes a new body called Homes for Greater Manchester, and says these homes wouldn’t be social housing to ensure they aren’t purchasable by tenants under the Right to Buy scheme. In a biting indictment of Burnham’s tenure, Coggins said Labour has provided “virtually no new affordable homes” and accused the party of prioritising “the interests of developers” and “luxury flats” over Manchester’s residents. We’ve covered the GMCA’s investment in Manchester’s property market extensively, including its record of affordable housing via the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loans fund, which lends money to developers. But how exactly Coggins’ scheme would be funded, and where these homes would be built, isn’t clearcut. We’ve been told by a Green Party source that it’s “highly likely” Coggins’ full manifesto will be released on Thursday, with another interim announcement expected tomorrow, so we’ll update you once we know more. In the meantime, you can read our in-depth profile on Coggins here.
The last club on the Locks
If you came of age between 2000 and 2020 in Greater Manchester, chances are you harbour either fond or frightful memories of stumbling out of a club on Deansgate Locks as dawn breaks over its arches. Back in 2021, longtime staff writer Jack D joined the bouncers on the Locks, where crowds of clubbers were already jostling to enter by 9pm. But in recent years, what used to be a staple of Manchester’s nightlife has been looking increasingly weatherbeaten, as club after club has closed their doors.
The Locks was once home to Beehouse, Comedy Store, Revolution, El Diablo and Lola Lo, but another shock closure means just one lonesome relic will soon remain: Popworld. Yesterday, the MEN reported that Ark will be closing within a matter of weeks, with its owners, the pub giant Stonegate (which also manages Popworld) saying that, “despite [their] best efforts”, the club is “no longer commercially viable”.
Open newsroom
We’re on the lookout for positive tips for an upcoming Good News edition. A great community initiative happening in your area of Greater Manchester? Perhaps there’s a local hero who deserves some recognition? Maybe you’re the local hero. Either way, get in touch.
This week's weather
Our guerrilla weatherman Martin Miles tells us the mercury is back on the rise this week. On the subject of 'things that are coming home', he tells us, it's football: maybe; sunshine: certainly.
Tuesday ⛅ Dry and pleasant with bright spells, although breezy. Max 23°c.
Wednesday 🌤️ Warm with long spells of summer sunshine. Dry and calm too. Max 27°c.
Thursday ☀️ Very warm with mostly sunny skies accompanied by light winds. Dry in all areas. Max 30°c.
Friday 🌦️ Hot and sunny for the most part. Increasing chance of showers breaking out and thundery rain later in the day. Max 33°c.
Weekend 🌦️ Cooler than Thursday and Friday with lots of sunshine, but there will be a risk of showers breaking out later in the daytimes. Temperatures still in the mid-twenties.
Home of the week
This double-fronted cottage in Affetside, Bolton, is worth it for the view you’d have each morning stepping out the door. But the free standing bath is another pull. On the market for £449,590.
What our writers are up to this week
📽️ If you despise the endless Netflix scroll that usually accompanies movie night selection, allow Manchester Library to take the pressure off. Their Mystery International Film Club returns at 5pm tonight, screening “a mystery film from anywhere in the world”. Grab your free ticket here.
🎤 You can be a performer or a spectator at Stage and Radio’s The Comedy Circus, a free, open mic stand-up comedy show this Wednesday. Tickets here.
🧶 Also on Wednesday — and a little more lowkey — is Altrincham Library’s weekly knitting and crochet club. Between 10:30am and and 12:30pm you can join fellow yarn lovers, beginners and experts alike. There’s no booking required — just turn up on the day.
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