Andy Burnham has encouraged people in Greater Manchester to begin carefully returning to work this month after “an August like no other”.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester made the announcement in a blog post via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) website yesterday evening and stated that, whilst the past month in particular has been particularly “difficult” for the people of Greater Manchester, we cannot “live in fear of this virus and hide away”.
He has called for a “voluntary” return to work and school in the region, but one that is done “safely and with support, not threats”, which he believes will require the public to become “more disciplined in the way we live alongside COVID”.
“With a new term comes the need for a new mindset.” he said.
🗣️ "It is time to ask people to think about returning to the office. But let’s do it carefully and with support, not threats."
Read the Mayor's blog about returning to the office here:
He also aimed criticism at the government after ministers were accused this week of “threatening” people to go back to the office with the economy continuing to experience the fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
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Mr Burnham said he had his “head in [his] hands last Friday when [he] saw the headline: “Go back to work or risk losing your job.” and stated that Greater Manchester “will be taking a different approach”.
His statement reads: “I agree with the Government that it’s important for people to begin to return to the office to support our city and town centres. But ordering people back and stoking up the fear factor is the wrong way to go about it.
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“Apart from the extra anxiety it may cause to those already worried about redundancy, it risks an unplanned rush back to work for which we don’t have capacity on public transport. If our trams and buses end up overcrowded and unsafe, it won’t build the confidence on which any recovery will have to be based”.
Mark Waugh
He continued: “Starting this week, I will be leading the call for a safety-led, voluntary return to the office for those ready to do so.
“Having spent the last five months working from home, I will return to the office myself for the first time in five months and, in so doing, hopefully set a lead others might follow.
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“It’s important because we all need to play our part in helping our city recover.”
“Where I agree with the Government is with their concern for city centres. They are right to challenge organisations abandoning offices for the foreseeable future. Cities are the engines of our economy. It is crucial that we bring them back to life and support businesses based there, but we are more likely to succeed if we do it in a gradual, careful, positive way.
“There will be some who’ll no doubt say this is irresponsible given the challenges that Greater Manchester is still experiencing with the virus. Others will claim it is contradictory, given the restrictions on home gatherings still in place. I don’t believe it is.
“The office is a more regulated environment than the home and it is our hope that the measures will be lifted everywhere soon.
“That said, it’s true that we will need to continue to be vigilant and cautious about social gatherings, particularly at home. We can’t rule out more local restrictions at some point, but nor can we let this virus rule our lives.
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“The only answer, then, is to get better at living with it.”
Mr Burnham confirmed in the blog post that he will be returning to work in his Manchester office this month and said he will also be joined by about 30% of staff who work for Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
He closed out his statement encouraging the people of Greater Manchester to “embrace the moment”.
He said: “That end-of-summer-back-to-school feeling is never a good one but is probably more daunting this year than ever. So there is only one thing for it – let’s embrace the moment we are in and use it to make positive changes to our lives. The old normal isn’t coming back any time soon, and, let’s be honest, it wasn’t that great any way.
“A difficult few months lie ahead, no doubt, but if we approach the challenge head on, we’ll get through it and soon find ourselves in the better times that await us on the other side.”
You can read Andy Burnham’s full blog post on the GMCA website here.
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Man pleads guilty to ‘preparing for acts of terrorism’ in relation to Manchester synagogue attack
Emily Sergeant
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road in Cheetham Hill, appeared at the Central Criminal Court last week (Friday 5 June 2026) and pleaded guilty to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2006.
The prosecution will consider the basis of the guilty plea, and now a two-day sentencing hearing has been set for 22-23 July 2026 at Manchester Crown Court.
In case you need a reminder, the shocking knife and car attack took place on 2 October 2025 on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar – at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
During the incident, two men sadly lost their lives during the attack – Adrian Daulby, 53, who was shot dead by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while trying to stop the attacker from entering the synagogue, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper who also helped stop the attacker.
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism / Credit: Google Maps | GMP
The attacker was named as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who lived in Prestwich – who at the time was on bail for an alleged rape, before being shot dead by police.
Following the terrorist attack, enquiries conducted by detectives identified Bashir as an associate of Jihad Al-Shamie, and established that the two of them had conducted ;hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility’ on 14 August 2025.
The pair were seen on CCTV prior to the trip discussing criteria for potential targets to attack.
They were then seen on ANPR cameras making the journey to the site – with Bashir acting as the driver for most of the journey.
He is due to be sentenced next month / Credit: GMP
Speaking following Bashir’s guilty plea, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts – who holds operational responsibility for Counter Terrorism Policing North West – commented: “Our comprehensive enquiries led to the offending of Mohammed Bashir coming to light.
“Although not directly linked to the synagogue attack, the fact he conducted hostile reconnaissance alongside a man who would later commit a terrorist attack show the seriousness of his actions.
“We welcome today’s guilty plea and look ahead to the sentencing which is due to take place in July.
“This case will understandably prompt public commentary about the terrorist attack that took place last October. My thoughts today are with all those affected, particularly the loved ones of those whose lives were taken and those who were seriously injured.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
The Manc -
1st September 2020 
