News

Final reminder issued to Greater Manchester voters ahead of General Election

All polling stations across the UK will be open from 7am to 10pm tomorrow.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 3rd July 2024

Final reminders have been issued to voters across Greater Manchester ahead of tomorrow’s General Election.

With less than 24 hours to go now until polls up and down the country open for what could be a historic moment in British political history, the 2024 General Election, voters throughout the region are being reminded of voting protocols and what they’ll need to take with them to their allocated polling station tomorrow (4 July).

Councils throughout Greater Manchester are reminded voters of both polling day and postal voting arrangements.

All polling stations across the UK will be open from 7am to 10pm tomorrow.

Final reminders have been issued to Greater Manchester voters ahead of the General Election / Credit: gov.uk

Under national rules, all voters will have to have approved photo ID, such as UK, EU, or Commonwealth passports, a photocard driving licence, a Voter Authority Certificate, or other specified forms of ID, in order to be able to vote.

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Accepted ID can still be used for voting even if it has expired, as long the photo is still a good likeness of the voter, and a full list of accepted ID can be found on the Government‘s website here.

Most polling stations across Greater Manchester will have privacy screens available as standard for anyone who wants to show their ID in private, for whatever reason they may wish to do so, and Manchester City Council, in particular, has assured voters that its polling day staff are “trained to handle such requests discreetly and with courtesy”.   

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People who have requested and received postal votes are being encouraged to complete and return them as soon as possible.

If you are a postal voter, but are unable to post the completed postal ballot yourself, then you should only ask someone you know and trust to post them, as it’s a criminal offence for candidates or political campaigners to handle the postal vote of anyone who is not a close relative, or someone who they provide care for.

Although it may seem a little close to the wire, postal votes can actually still be posted back on polling day itself.

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Royal Mail will carry out a final sweep of post boxes and deliver all postal votes to elections staff tomorrow, as long as they are posted before the final collection time for that particular postbox – but if they are posted after the final collection time, they won’t arrive in time to be counted.  

You will need to bring photo ID to vote at all UK polling stations / Credit: Electoral Commission (via gov.uk)

Electors can also hand in completed postal ballots to any polling station in the Manchester City Council area, or at the Customer Service Centre in the town hall extension building, between 9am and 5pm up to and including polling day.

Anyone handing in a postal ballot pack will be provided with a form which must be completed to ensure the pack is accepted.  

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This is likely to be the case for most other Greater Manchester boroughs too, but voters are advised to check what applies to them in their parliamentary constituency.

Featured Image – gov.uk

News

Manchester Pride enters voluntary liquidation ‘with enormous sadness’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Pride’s statement as it enters liquidation

Manchester Pride has announced that the company has entered the process of voluntary liquidation, after it emerged that several of this year’s performers had gone unpaid.

The hugely popular LGBTQ+ event, which spills from the Gay Village and into surrounding venues every August bank holiday weekend, said it has faced ‘rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an ambitious refresh of format’.

Manchester Pride said that all of these factors, among others, have led to the organisation being ‘no longer financially viable’ and its staff team will be made redundant.

“We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves,” the Board of Trustees wrote.

Last week, it emerged that a number of artists who appeared at this year’s celebration had shared a letter that alleges they are still waiting for payment for their work at the festival.

In a statement shared this afternoon, Manchester Pride added that they have been unsuccessfully seeking ‘financial opportunities’ to find a ‘positive solution’.

Manchester Pride wrote: “We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners.

“Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.”

Manchester Pride’s statement in full

It is with enormous sadness that we announce that Manchester Pride has started the legal process of voluntary liquidation.

A combination of rising costs, which are affecting the entire events and hospitality industries, declining ticket sales and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues, along with an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride, has led to the organisation no longer being financially viable.

We regret the delays in communicating the current situation; however, we were keen not to jeopardise financial opportunities while our discussions were ongoing. We were proactive and determined to identify solutions to the financial issues. We’ve been actively working with several partners, including legal and financial advisors, to do everything we could to find a positive solution. We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners. Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.

The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated at this situation and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant. We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves. We would like to sincerely offer our thanks to all of our staff, volunteers and supporters who have contributed so much to Manchester Pride over the years.

The organisation has achieved a great deal since its creation and, in particular, since the Covid pandemic. This includes:

● 237,000 visitors to the city

● £104.8m of economic impact

● 148 grants being made to grass roots community groups

● Positive positioning of Manchester as an inclusive city

We hope and believe that this leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the Pride movement in Greater Manchester, and that it will continue long into the future. We will do everything we can to support this moving forward.

The Manchester Pride team have now handed over the details of suppliers and artists who are owed money to the liquidators who will be handling the affairs of the Charity and contacting everyone.

Board of Trustees, Manchester Pride

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester Police release latest image of elderly missing woman last seen in Oldham

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Greater Manchester Police have released a new image of an elderly missing woman after she was last seen in the Oldham area.

The 76-year-old lady, named only as Susette, who is believed to be from the Shaw area, was most recently spotted on Oak Street at approximately 8:56pm this past Monday, 20 October.

Officers and locals alike are understandably growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Susette is described as an older white female, around 5’4″ in height, with a slim build and light blonde/greyish hair. You can see the latest sighting of her down below.

Have you seen Susette? (Credit: GMP handout)

Police previously stated that she had been seen wearing a blue anorak, blue jeans, a beige jumper with black stripes and black trainers with white trim.

However, as you can see, she has since been spotted in a similar outfit, apart from now wearing a cream jacket, black trousers and black ‘running-style’ trainers with a white sole.

It is also now understood that she has dementia and is therefore considered vulnerable.

Local Liberal Democrat and councillor, Howard Sykes MBE, has also asked his fellow constituents to remain vigilant and come forward with any and all potentially useful information they may have.

Sharing another photo of her via his official online blog, he went on to add: “Please can we ask anyone with any information to please contact GMP and to keep a lookout when out and about in the community to ensure Susette is found safe and well.”

It is believed that she is still on foot and will be in and around the Oldham area.

Anyone with any info is urged to get in touch with the authorities immediately so officers can ensure she is safe and well.

If you can help, simply get in touch via 101 quoting log 3670 of 20/10/2025; in case of emergency, dial 999 right away.

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Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police/Handout (via Howard Sykes MBE website)

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