A group of cross-party MPs and peers have today come together to establish an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the UK’s Night Time Economy.
The group, which is chaired by Jeff Smith – Labour MP for Manchester Withington – will provide a key voice for the sector in parliament to address the immediate “COVID-induced crisis” it is facing and future challenges is likely to come up against.
The move comes as the sector and its supply chains are at risk of collapse due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, combined with “insufficient sector specific financial support from government”.
The group states that it believes the current crisis is an “existential threat” to the Night Time Industry sector.
The sector has “borne the brunt of COVID-restrictions” with many businesses having been ordered to remain closed since March, and there has also been widespread concern across the sector that it has been particularly under-represented politically, and undervalued both culturally and economically in government, with many misconceptions around business models and market segmentation.
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In a positive step for the sector, the inaugural meeting of the APPG took place this morning.
APPG Night Time Economy Chaired by @JeffsmithMP took place this morning with some great insight and discussion around the current challenges within the NTE. Looking forward to working with the group to give the sector a stronger voice! #savenightlife#APPGnightlifepic.twitter.com/lpkeubIrFV
— Night Time Industries Association (@ntiaofficial) December 9, 2020
The meeting marks the recognition of the specific challenges facing night time businesses, and sets a new dialogue between the sector and parliamentarians across the political spectrum.
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The new APPG will be supported by the Night Time Industries Association.
The NTIA will seek to provide industry insight and secretariat services to the group going forward.
Speaking on the inaugural meeting this morning, Jeff Smith MP – Chair of the new APPG – said: “The night time sector is hugely important to both the UK economy and our cultural identity – particularly in Greater Manchester, where have a proud tradition of music, arts and entertainment, and where music tourism alone generated £169 million for our local economy pre-pandemic.
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“In the past nine months, the sector has faced enormous challenges, and thousands of bars, nightclubs, and live events businesses are at risk of collapse.
“As a former and event manager and DJ, I feel strongly about the importance of these businesses, so I am pleased to be chairing the new cross-party group to support night-time industries [and] we will be working hard to ensure that this usually viable, thriving and world-leading sector can not only survive the Covid crisis, but prepare for a prosperous, long-term recovery.”
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Michael Kill – CEO of NTIA – added: “It is vitally important that the Night Time Economy has its own voice, and alongside businesses, associations and participating parliamentarians, we welcome the All Party Parliamentary Group to further support and clarify the challenges around the industry, and help recognise its cultural and economic value both within the UK and internationally.”
“We are extremely pleased to have the support of many cross-party parliamentarians, and believe that this group will have a substantial part to play in the regeneration of the night time economy in the next 12 months.”
You can find more information via the NTIA website here.
Salford man jailed after pointing loaded gun at police and members of public while on the run
Emily Sergeant
A man from Salford has been jailed for more than a decade after he pointed a loaded gun at police officers and members of the public while he was on the run.
Jay Conway, of Leicester Walk in Salford, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week (6 March 2026) where he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and assault of an emergency worker, as well as also pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs.
His sentencing comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Salford Challenger team were patrolling Albert Park in plain clothes on Tuesday 20 May 2025.
They spotted a man riding an e-bike and wearing a balaclava, and attempted to detain him there and then, but despite their best efforts, he fled the area, brandishing what officers believed to be a pistol in the process.
The suspect – which was later identified as Conway – stole a bike and cycled on to Great Clowes Street, where a neighbourhood officer heading towards the incident attempted to detain him but he resisted. The officer deployed his Taser but he drew the pistol for a second time, pointing it at police and also at a member of the public.
Conway then dropped the firearm – which police later confirmed as a viable, loaded pistol – and a mobile phone, and fled for a second time.
Thanks to a ‘fast-paced and thorough’ investigation by specialist GMP teams, involving forensic analysis of the phone and CCTV which identified Conway as the suspect, he was arrested by armed officers the following day in Whalley Range.
“Nobody – a police officer or a member of the public – should be confronted by a gun,” said Detective Superintendent Simon Moyles, following Conway’s sentencing.
“These were frightening incidents and Conway is clearly a dangerous individual who is rightly serving a prison sentence. We need to commend and recognise our officers who showed immense bravery in trying to stop Conway.
“Guns have no place on our streets and the work we are doing in Salford, and across Greater Manchester, in relation to firearms incidents continues.
“If you know anyone who is using, or possesses, an illegal firearm, we urge you to get in touch with us as, for each firearm we recover, that’s potentially a life saved.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Nearly 300 new ‘social rent’ homes given go-ahead as part of £500m Wythenshawe regeneration
Emily Sergeant
Nearly 300 new homes are set to be built in Wythenshawe as part of a wider £500 million regeneration scheme.
In case you didn’t know, Placemaker Muse and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group submitted three separate planning applications for 422 new affordable homes back in December 2025, following a public consultation with locals.
Now, works on two of the three new communities can begin, with the third expected to get the green light in the coming weeks.
Brotherton House – which is a former office building – will be transformed into 216 new homes, including an extra care apartment building with 109 homes for people in later life and those living with dementia, while C2 The Birtles, also currently retail and office space, is situated next to the former market square and will be replaced with 81 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Alpha House, which is currently awaiting a planning decision, has now been demolished and will be rebuilt to provide 125 one and two-bedroom apartments – including 16 wheelchair accessible homes.
According to developers, all the homes will be ‘affordable, high-quality, and energy-efficient’, with additional outdoor and communal spaces to promote health and wellbeing.
The approval given to build these new homes forms part of the wider ‘ambitious’ plan to transform Wythenshawe over the next decade.
The wider masterplan for Wythenshawe will see up to 2,000 new homes created over the next 10 to 15 years, which will complement the wider investment currently underway in Civic – supported by £20 million of Government funding, and £11.9 million from Manchester City Council.
Nearly 300 new homes have been given the go-ahead as part of a £500m Wythenshawe regeneration scheme / Credit: Muse (Supplied)
New community facilities in the town include the Culture Hub – which is now underway – the Food Hall, currently awaiting a planning decision, new workspaces, and improvements to the outdoor spaces in Civic, all designed to create a ‘greener and more welcoming’ town centre.
“For us, this is about delivering the truly affordable homes local people have told us they need,” explained Andrea Lowman, who is the Executive Director of Development at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
“Every one of these homes will be for social rent, giving more families, older residents and people with additional needs the opportunity to live well in the heart of Wythenshawe.
“As the local social housing provider, we are focused not just on building new homes but on creating sustainable communities and making sure this investment strengthens the town centre for existing and future residents alike.”
The Manc -
9th December 2020 
