Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak unveiled his first Budget for 2021 yesterday.
For those somewhat unfamiliar with the term and why its bi-annual unveiling often carries such significance for the country, the Budget – which is formally known as the Financial Statement – is a statement made to the House of Commons by the Chancellor twice a year.
Yesterday’s statement outlined the current state of the economy in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and gave the government’s proposals for changes to taxation in the upcoming period.
The Chancellor also made forecasts for the economy by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
As is to be expected after many businesses have only been permitted to trade for a few months, or have remained closed entirely, since Britain was first forced into lockdown last March, and with an ‘irreversible’ roadmap to reopen the economy now published, millions had been speculating as to whether financial support will remain available – and how the country will get back on its feet.
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So, there was a lot to unpack after yesterday’s announcement.
An important moment is upon us. A moment of challenge and of change.
If you’re looking for a round-up of everything Mr Sunak said, then we’ve covered that in full here, but now that the dust has settled the morning after, how do Greater Manchester’s leaders, MPs, and prominent figures feel about the measures unveiled during the announcement?
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What positives have they picked out, what criticisms have been highlighted, and how do they feel about the upcoming year ahead?
Here’s everything we know so far.
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Andy Burnham
Mayor of Greater Manchester
Speaking in his weekly online press conference yesterday afternoon, Mr Burnham – Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester – provided his take on the Budget announcement by first saying that he “would describe it as a packet of Polos – in some ways refreshing, but also full of holes”.
He then welcomed the announcement on support for self-employed people and the extension of furlough, among others, but then went on to acknowledge that many people have “not had their plight recognised” in the Budget and remain excluded from public support.
He said: “In Greater Manchester terms, we estimate that 100,000 people are still in the category of excluded from public support.”
“That’s a lot of people struggling.”
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?️ “I think there were some refreshing parts of this budget, but the holes were those big commitments to the strategic investment that the North of England needs.” says Mayor Andy Burnham
You can find Mr Burnham’s full comments on the 2021 Budget announcement via the official @MayorofGM Twitter thread from yesterday’s conference here.
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Sacha Lord
Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, and co-founder of Warehouse Project and Parklife
Following several early reports emerging ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget unveiling yesterday, and in light of the “landmark victory for hospitality” where it was announced that the government intends to drop the ‘substantial meal’ clause from its roadmap, thanks directly to his legal challenge, Sacha Lord earlier admitted on Twitter that the announcement “could be the biggest announcement for hospitality and events in our lifetime”.
He also said it would be “make or break for many who have managed to make it this far”.
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In response to the announcement, Mr Lord initially said that yesterday’s Budget is “very welcome and supportive for hospitality across the UK” and added that operators in the region’s hospitality sector would be “waking up with renewed hope”.
But then raised a concerns surrounding additional help that will be needed for freelance workers going forward and also questioned why “we still don’t have a government-backed COVID indemnity insurance policy for events”, saying that this is “critical” and that he will “continue to drive this through”.
Overall, I'm pleased today. Recovery will be slow and steady so the furlough extension is a welcome move and will save thousands of jobs. Business rate and hospitality VAT measures will also be a lifeline too many. Operators will be waking up tomorrow with renewed hope.
.@andyburnhamgm and I have continually called for support for the 3 million freelancers who have been excluded from any financial aid – many of these work within the night time economy. Today, over 600,000 have been helped. A good start, but clearly much much more to be done.
Concerned we still don't have a Government-backed COVID indemnity insurance policy for events. It's critical and hundreds of events, including weddings are relying on this. I know Westminster and the Treasury are considering it, so I will continue to drive this through.
You can further comment from Mr Lord on the 2021 Budget announcement via Twitter here.
You can also find a brief run down of the announcements in the Budget related to the local Night Time Economy sector via the Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Office Twitter thread here.
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Lou Cordwell
Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GMLEP)
Also speaking live at Mayor Andy Burnham’s virtual press conference yesterday afternoon, Lou Cordwell – Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GMLEP) – offered her stance on the Budget announcement, starting by saying: “It’s good to see support for those sectors that have suffered the most [and] the extension of the furlough scheme is incredibly welcome”, and that she was “delighted” with the news that Liverpool City Region – which also includes Port Salford – had been successful in its Freeport bid.
“There is a strong sense of collaboration across our city-regions, and it’s a great example of pan-North West collaboration.” she added.
She also addressed the issue of Corporation Tax, and said: “The big area that we hoped to see more on is around the importance of research and innovation in the economy, and particularly in green, which is going to play an important part in our economy in the coming years.”
?️ “It's incredibly important that we as a place are investable and we have projects and initiatives that can be invested in.”@Loucordwell chair of @GMLEP talks about economic recovery at today’s press conference
You can further comment from Ms Cordwell on the 2021 Budget announcement via the official @GMLEP Twitter thread here.
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Chris Fletcher
Director of Policy and Communications at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC)
First taking to Twitter to give his initial response to the Chancellor’s Budget announcement yesterday afternoon, Christ Fletcher – Director of Policy and Communications at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) – said it was “time [for me] to hit the red book for the details” and gave his initial impression as “decent at short term offsetting COVID impact, but feels a bit lacklustre longer term”.
So as the Chancellor sits down after #Budget2021 speech – I make it 52 minutes – time to hit the red book for the details. Initial impression, decent at short term offsetting Covid impact but feels a bit lacklustre longer term. More to come….
He then later stated in full: “There was an awful lot riding on the content of today’s Budget, especially for those businesses still struggling with the impact of COVID, such as the hospitality and tourism sectors [and] the first part of the Chancellor’s speech would have given them and others some comfort with the expected extension of the furlough scheme to June then a tapering off until September, supporting this are new rounds of grant monies and business rate reductions.
“The phasing of VAT will also bring some relief [and] alongside new measures to help businesses recruit and re-open in the short term, this all seems positive, although there are still a huge number of business owners excluded from government support”.
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“As we approach the first anniversary of lockdown, this is far from acceptable.” he added.
You can full comment from Mr Fletcher on behalf of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) regarding the 2021 Budget announcement here.
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Greater Manchester MPs
A round-up of social media reaction to the Budget 2021 announcement by a number of MPs across Greater Manchester’s constituancies.
Lucy Powell – Labour MP for Manchester Central
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Excellent response by @Keir_Starmer exposing that, for all its glitz, this Budget completely fails to fix the broken foundations of the economy: inequality, insecurity and public services like social care exposed during COVID. No real agenda for green recovery or levelling up
While the minimum, emergency action for hospitality & others is there, gaping holes in #Budget remain. Nothing for supply chain & events/weddings, key sectors hard hit like automotive, aerospace, steel, & no long term investment to transition to green like competitor countries
Barbara Keeley – Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles South
Its good that @RishiSunak has finally listened to campaigners and MPs so that newly self-employed can access the later stages of the grant but why so late and what about the rest of the 3 million @ExcludedUK
Hugely disappointing Budget for unpaid #carers with no mention of what they have contributed through caring through the #COVID19 pandemic. Also, no sign of a plan or reform of funding for social care. https://t.co/BUP6jFjakP
Rebecca Long-Bailey – Labour MP for Blackley and Broughton
#Budget – is this a joke? Facing the existential threat of climate change and we see so little. eg. A paltry 12bn Investment Bank, shiny retail savings products and a distant report into carbon offsetting in the City of London? A Green Industrial Revolution this is not.
– No permanent extension of the £20 Universal Credit and legacy benefits uplift – Greater Manchester must wait until 2022-3 for investment in intra-city transport – 2m+ excluded from parallel furlough scheme for self-employed#Budget2021
Today's Budget from @RishiSunak not only protects our economy and those hardest hit, but kickstarts recovery, prioritising businesses and people’s livelihoods as we emerge from the crisis. #Budget2021 ? pic.twitter.com/q9plpskaSl
A Budget that papers over the cracks. We need to learn the lessons of this pandemic, and build a strong green economy for the long term, not go back to the insecurity and inequality of the past.https://t.co/KdGfJeijQW
Buried in the small print of the budget is the news that the Communities Secretary and many of his Tory friends are the main beneficiaries of the Towns Fund, ahead of areas with far higher deprivation. They are absolutely shameless. https://t.co/0by1uGSR06
Christian Wakeford – Conservative MP for Bury South
This budget will ensure we can recover from the Coronavirus pandemic by delivering for jobs, apprentices, business, home buyers and will help boost world leading investment programs. In driving forward these spending plans we really can Build Back Better for a stronger Bury.
— Christian Wakeford MP (@Christian4BuryS) March 3, 2021
– No pay rise for NHS staff (claps were good enough in Sunak's view) – £8bn tax raid on the lowest paid with the £12.5k freeze – "Green recovery" focus as Govt plan to open a coal mine – Economic foundations still in tatters and inequality rife
— Yasmin Qureshi MP (@YasminQureshiMP) March 3, 2021
Tony Lloyd – Labour MP for Rochdale
? Read: I have written to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, urging him to ensure that this Budget is a break from the past, repairing the economy whilst fixing our society and preparing us for our next challenge, Climate Change. ?https://t.co/KDc2Uvp7rN
Have I missed the bit where the Chancellor announced a pay rise for health and social care workers? I suppose last year's clapping will have to pay this year's bills.
A year into a pandemic the Chancellor's Budget didn't include a pay rise for NHS and social care staff who have got us through this crisis, didn't mention social care and didn't even mention sick pay.
— Debbie Abrahams MP (@Debbie_abrahams) March 3, 2021
Jim McMahon – Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton
Pretty bold of the chancellor to repeat the 'do whatever it takes', given the year that has gone with millions left unsupported, including key industries #BudgetSpeech2021
Jonathon Reynolds – Labour MP for Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale & Dukinfield
The Budget doesn’t get us on the road to recovery and it doesn’t ensure there is no return to the insecurities of the past#Budget21pic.twitter.com/Q3AdzCM8xN
No mention of children, their mental health or wellbeing, nothing for schools facing extra covid costs, nothing for hardworking education staff. This isn't the ambitious recovery plan we needed from the chancellor. Children always an afterthought for this gvt #Budget2021
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Manchester United announce record revenue despite on-pitch struggles
Danny Jones
Manchester United have declared a record revenue figure for the full 2025 fiscal term, even with their poor performances on the pitch over the past 12 months.
They may still be a continually struggling Premier League side who seem to be in a perpetual state of transition, but they remain nothing short of a global giant in terms of sporting brands.
Yes, despite Man United recording two of the worst finishes in domestic history in the previous two campaigns and head coach Ruben Amorim having already overseen the worst start to a top-flight season in the modern era following the defeat on derby day, the football club has reached a monetary milestone.
According to their official reports for the fourth and final quarter of the financial year, they brought in a record-breaking £666.5 million throughout 2024/25 – but, as always, it’s more complicated than that.
"There are some tough decisions to be made"
BREAKING: Manchester United have announced record revenues for 2024/25 of £666.5m – but the club still made an overall loss of £33m 🚨 pic.twitter.com/jlQS7SMjJ8
Released on Wednesday, 17 September, Manchester United PLC confirmed that they had managed to record the biggest revenue figures on several fronts despite crashing out of the Europa League, finishing 15th in the table overall and failing to secure a place in any European competition this season.
The first half of Amorim‘s tenure at Old Trafford saw the club’s worst competitive placing since 1973/74, a.k.a. the last time the Red Devils were relegated from the first division.
Nevertheless, a fresh shirt sponsorship agreement with Snapdragon, new brand partnerships with the likes of Coca-Cola, an extension of their contract with travel experience company, SportsBreaks, and numerous other deals saw United achieve a record commercial revenue of £333.3m.
Elsewhere, match revenue was also up and reached new heights, tallying approximately £160.3m in the 12 months leading up to 30 June 2025 – the most they have ever registered when it comes to ticket sales, concessions, and other transactions in and around game days.
Although this number is a reduction of more than 70.8% what they lost last year (£113.2m), there is still plenty of concern among supporters over how money is still not only being spent but moved around.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS board did pay sizeable chunks of MUFC’s debt, which has piled up at an alarming rate in the two decades since the Glazer takeover, but there has still been plenty of borrowing.
In addition to a number of shorter-term loans, there has also been an increased level of amortisation and significant transfer spending this summer, despite being admittedly cash-strapped.
As well as actually having less money to play with over the past 12 months, they are also set to receive less in TV rights and broadcasting revenues this season due to not making it into any European competition, hence why they went on a post-season Asian tour to try and make up for funds lost.
It’s estimated that the business earned a further £8 million from these games, but it’s also worth noting that significant sums have been spent not only on new signings but also on severance fees and redundancy packages, so it’s hard to assess how much this extra injection helped with the fine margins.
While it's good to see that we're paying down our long-term debts, I'm a bit worried about how the club have maybe over-leveraged short-term borrowings. Debt restructure needed imo. pic.twitter.com/LQuUdbzK1h
Divisive CEO and former City Football Group exec, Omar Berrada, wrote in the comments section of the full findings and financial report: “As we settle into the 2025/26 season, we are working hard to improve the club in all areas.
“On the field, we are pleased with the additions we have made to our men’s and women’s first team squads over the summer, as we build for the long term. Off the field, we are emerging from a period of structural and leadership change with a refreshed, streamlined organisation equipped to deliver on our sporting and commercial objectives.”
He adds: “We are also investing [in upgrading] our infrastructure, including completion of the £50m redevelopment of our men’s first team building at Carrington, on time and on budget, following prior investment in our women’s team facilities, to create a world-class environment for our players and staff.
“Meanwhile, planning continues to meet our ambition of developing a new stadium at Old Trafford as part of a transformational regeneration of the surrounding community.
Total Manchester United revenue may be up but they’re about to shell out seismic outlay for their new stadium costs.
Berrada signs off by insistig that for the club to have “generated record revenues during such a challenging year for the club demonstrates the resilience which is a hallmark of Manchester United.
“Our commercial business remains strong as we continue to deliver appealing products and experiences for our fans, and best-in-class value to our partners.”
“As we start to feel the benefits of our cost reduction programme, there is significant potential for improved financial performance, which will, in turn, support our overriding priority: success on the pitch.”
What do you make of Manchester United’s 2024/25 annual report and how it fits into the wider picture/struggles elsewhere around the club?
FIFA confirm new changes to international breaks – and many fans are divided
Danny Jones
Global sporting body FIFA have announced new changes to the annual football calendar and the ever-divisive international breaks, specifically.
It’s fair to say that not everyone is in agreement over the update to what many fans and even players already find a frustrating format.
Put simply, FIFA have revealed that they will be merging the traditional September and October breaks into one extended period of international football from 2026 onwards.
Once again, although the decision has been met with plenty of support, it has also faced just as much, if not potentially even more, resistance.
That's well better. Always thought instead of having 3 short international breaks in autumn we'd be better off having one long one
As detailed by multiple outlets following full confirmation on Monday, 13 September, footy fans are now looking at a combined 16 days of watching national teams in World Cup qualifiers and other fixtures.
While other clubs further down the footballing pyramid will still be able to watch their team, supporters of Premier League sides and several other divisions will see domestic action cease for roughly three weeks when taking into account rest days between international and club fixtures
Besides incorporating more teams into this year’s World Cup (now a 48-team affair) and the still relatively recent advent of the Nations League – which UEFA introduced in the hopes of creating more interest in the much-maligned international breaks – this is one of the biggest changes in some time.
At present, there are typically four breaks: September, October, November and March/April – not including major tournaments themselves.
One criticism of this format has been the stop-start consequence it has on club football, and indeed, struggling to create any real momentum and/or excitement, as well as the impact on form it sometimes has on players both away on national team duty and when they get back to their clubs.
I suppose it’s better than having two different breaks in Sept and the October, and the stop start nature of the club season.
Another big concern these breaks have always been met with is the added risk of fatigue and injury.
Despite being athletes who regularly train to remain at the peak of their physical fitness, the increasingly congested fixture calendar – particularly for those playing in England, with multiple cup competitions, the prospect of European football AND no break over Christmas – continues to push bodies to the limit.
Once again, these new changes to international breaks won’t come into effect until next year, but there are plenty of pros and cons that professionals and supporters alike will continue to debate until the new schedule is implemented.
The Manc -
4th March 2021 
