Two of Greater Manchester’s popular postcodes have been named as being ‘hotspots’ for uninsured drivers.
Merely days after one of our region’s towns was identified as being a property ‘hotspot’, thanks to house prices there having shot up by 10% on average last year, now another local two residential areas have been named ‘hotspots’ too… only this time, it’s for a reason not quite as positive.
That’s because these two areas have been found to have a high concentration of drivers who are aren’t insured to be on the roads.
Motoring company RAC looked at new data from the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) to compile a top 15 list highlighting the regions that are most affected by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
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Egerton in Bolton, which is one of the uninsured driver hotspots / Credit: Google Maps
According to the data, the West Midlands is particularly impacted by uninsured drivers, with eight out of the top 15 hotspots located in this area, but some of the other regions with high rates include Northumbria, London, Thames Valley, South Yorkshire, and, of course, Greater Manchester.
Both the SK1 postcode in Stockport and the BL7 postcode in Bolton have, unfortunately, found themselves on the list, featuring at number eight and number 12 respectively.
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Top 15 uninsured driver hotspots
B11 (Birmingham)
B21 (Birmingham)
DA17 (Bexley)
WV2 (Wolverhampton)
NE29 (North Tyneside)
HP12 (Buckinghamshire)
B18 (Birmingham)
SK1 (Stockport)
B8 (Birmingham)
WS4 (Walsall)
CV7 (Solihull)
BL7 (Bolton)
B33 (Birmingham)
DN8 (Doncaster)
MK7 (Milton Keynes)
The SK1 postcode region includes Stockport town centre and the residential areas within it, while the areas in the BL7 postcode include the affluent villages of Bromley Cross, Egerton, Edgworth, Belmont, and Chapeltown.
The only other northern areas featuring on the list is North Tyneside postcode NE29 and DN8 in Doncaster, with the vast majority being in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The RAC’s report coincides with the MIB’s work alongside police forces nationwide to get uninsured drivers off the road, with forces set to use the data provided to direct their efforts.
Featured Image – pxfuel
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‘I will fight for a better life for all’ – Bev Craig’s speech in full as she’s named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Labour candidate Bev Craig has been named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
As the polls closed across the region on yesterday’s (30 July 2026) mayoral by-election, it has been announced that Bev Craig is the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Craig won with a combined total of more than 300,000 votes, taking into account first and second preferences, beating out Reform UK’s candidate, Sian Astley, who came in second places with just over 157,000 votes.
The final result didn’t come in until close to 11pm last night, but in the end, Craig’s win was described as being a ‘decisive’.
The new Mayor of Greater Manchester has been elected! Bev Craig will take up the role from Monday.
A full table of votes from the 10 districts and the Greater Manchester result will be available on the GM Elects website#GMElectspic.twitter.com/fERMwv7pyT
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) July 31, 2026
The new Mayor has been elected after Andy Burnham was required to stand down from the role following his victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election last month, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231.
The role of Greater Manchester Mayor also holds Police and Crime Commissioner powers, so as an elected MP, Burnham was disqualified from holding the office of Mayor.
Of course, since that Makerfield by-election win, you might recall that Andy Burnham has then gone onto become Leader of the Labour Party, and therefore, Prime Minister, so it would probably have been tricky for him to balance two major roles at the same time anyway, even if he could.
Craig’s election to Mayor also means that she will no longer serve as the Leader of Manchester City Council – with further updates to be provided on that in due course.
Bev Craig’s first speech as Mayor of Greater Manchester in full
“I never believed as a girl growing up in a council estate that one day I would have the chance to stand for the place that I love, the place in this world that I’m proud to call home, and to offer my service to make our city region better.”
“Because Greater Manchester is special.
“We talk a lot about our history. We talk about the role that we’ve played from the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the trade union movement and Peterloo. From the suffragettes through to modern inventions and splitting the atom and the invention of the modern computer. We’ve changed the world in many ways in the past, but Greater Manchester’s potential lies in its future.
“And when Westminster walked away from us, when we were struggling as a deindustrialized city region, it was the people in this place that began the journey to rebuild.
“People often ask me, what is it that I feel makes Greater Manchester so special? And it’s our people and our communities. And during this campaign, I’ve got to see that firsthand in every single corner of this city region.
“In every pride, village, town, and both our cities, I find fantastic people doing incredible things against the odds every single day. Rejecting the politics of hate, but standing with their neighbours, looking out for each other. The spirit of a place that their neighbours will give their final pound in their pocket to help their struggling friend do the right thing.
“But for too many people across our region, life is simply too hard. The generational belief that we had that if you work hard and you did the right thing, then your life would be better, and the life of your kids would be better, is something that many people just don’t feel at the minute.”
“And that is the challenge that we in politics have to face up to. And it’s why I set myself a simple test, and I make that commitment to you today, that every single decision I take as your mayor of Greater Manchester will pass the test of making your life better.
“It will put more money in your pocket, and that was one of the reasons that my first pledge was around free buses for eleven to eighteen year olds to put five hundred quid in the pockets of families and give a message to our young people that they could be anything they wanted to be and go anywhere they wanted to go.
“That everyone in our city region deserves a good quality home that they can afford in a safe neighbourhood, and that everyone has to feel the benefits and successes of growth. You have to feel it in your pocket with good jobs in every corner of our city region, and you’ve got to see it on your high streets and when you walk out your front door, restoring pride into our, our high streets and town centres.
“But it can’t just be about building the basic fundamentals of a good life. It’s creating a good life. It’s letting people make those decisions where they plan with optimism and hope for the future. Things like spending time with friends and family with enough money in your pocket to do it, to plan for your holidays, to plan for your trips, to be able to think of the life you’re creating for your kids.
“And that’s what we can do here in Greater Manchester. And the final thing I’ll say is that this is about the city region that we want to be. This is the Greater Manchester that we can be. And that has to come with the belief that we can build things that make life better.
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“And I’ll say this really plainly. To those that voted for me, thank you. To the Labour support that’s in doubt, thank you. To those of you that lent me your vote, thank you. And for those of you that didn’t vote for me, I will still be your mayor because I will defend this city region with every bone in my body, and I will fight for a better life for all of us.
“So the hard work begins. I’ve done this with a promise and a plan, and my promise and commitment to you is that I will make this city region better, but I will work for everyone. I will be a greater mayor for everyone. And we have to heal.
“We have to move away from divisive politics that try and pit neighbour against neighbour, and we’ll work together.
“We’ll do it together, we’ll deliver it together, and we will build a Greater Manchester that works for all of us, that we’re all proud of, where everyone feels welcome and everyone has a chance to succeed. Thank you.”
Featured Image – GMCA
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Family-run Greater Manchester business calls out customers for punching cakes
Thomas Melia
A well-known independent Greater Manchester business has taken to social media to call out customers who were caught on CCTV punching their cakes.
Known for everything from cakes and pastries to hot baked goods and custom chocolate designs, Slattery’s in Whitefield has been serving up their gorgeous cake and chocolate creations for over 50 years, all while keeping the business family-run.
Unfortunately, the reason they’re receiving lots of attention at the minute is due to two customers resorting to violence on their pre-packaged sweet-treat products.
The social media account for this Greater Manchester chocolatier has uploaded two images which show the outcome of the fatal blows which struck two of their Victoria Sponge cakes.
Although this punch may have cost them the price of two of their delicious traybakes, later on in the post, Slattery’s issues a big thanks to “All the wonderful families who’ve visited so far this summer.”
“We know cake can be exciting, but a gentle reminder that little bakers should remain under adult supervision at all times – Thank you.”
This third-generation family-run “chocolate wonderland” has brought a smile to many locals’ and tourists’ faces alike with their wide variety of unique-shaped chocolate bars, lollies, grab bags and more.
All throughout 2021, Slattery’s were serving up their moreish Slattery’s Chocolate Lockdown Platters consisting of shortbread, brownies, fudge, pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos, helping Mancs continue to get our sugary fix even during one of the country’s toughest times.
Just look at them – they do the lord’s work:
Slattery’s chocolate shop and bakery has called out customers on social media for punching their pre-packaged cakes / Credit: The Manc Group
As well as attracting visitors with its grand three-storey bakery and chocolate shop, Slattery’s also has its very own restaurant, Mason’s Dining Room, where people flock to attempt the ‘Chocolate Challenge’.
To win, two chocoholics must team up to finish an American-style chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ice cream, a portion of fresh cream and two chocolate pots filled with liquid chocolate sauce – oh and two delicious hot chocolate drinks too.
Any sweet tooth successor will bag themselves one of Slattery’s chocolate medals and a box of handmade chocolates too – in case you needed chocolate anymore.
Lastly, anyone after supporting this Greater Manchester sweet-treat provider can find the chocolatier and cake makers on 197 Bury New Road in Whitefield or via Slattery’s official website HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2025 
