As global leaders meet in Glasgow to discuss the future of the planet, Andy Burnham is currently trending on Twitter after saying that northern England could “lead the next industrial revolution”.
Burnham made the statement over the weekend in a piece for The Mirror, in which he argued that he wants to “ensure climate justice goes hand in hand with social justice”.
He also pledged for Greater Manchester to try and reach net zero by 2038 – 12 years ahead of the government target of 2050.
Now he’s doubled down on those statements in a TV interview filmed with Sky’s Kay Burley, in which he said that COP26 “is the route to a lower cost of living for people”.
He explained, “if we retrofit people’s homes their energy bills can come right down and be more stable,”
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“We won’t get there without upfront costs […] but the thing is you can reduce the lifetime costs by putting in that upfront investment.
“So if you invest in an electric car it’s’ cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel car”.
He added that it was necessary that the government put in the upfront investment, but that that would, in turn, set northern leaders up to “hopefully reduce the cost of living for people”.
“I don’t think that message is getting over at the moment.”
“The drive to net-zero could be the way to level up the country, it could be the route to better public transport, better homes for people, jobs for people, doing all of that work on people’s homes, but I still feel we haven’t quite as a country got our message lined up properly on this.”
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He also told the presenter he didn’t think anyone is doing enough right now, before going on to say that “there’s a danger of [COP26] looking like a lot of entitled, wealthy people have come to lecture everybody about their lives.”
Agreeing, Burley interrupted to add, “They have […] they think, posh people, telling us what to do and I can’t afford to feed the kids.”
Burnham also managed to slip in a mention of his new bus proposals for the Greater Manchester region, which would see the introduction of new £1.50 ‘hopper’ fares.
These, he claimed, would give people a “real reason” to leave the car at home.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd November 2021 
