Sacha Lord has announced today that he has joined the Labour Party, which is a move he said he has wanted to make “for a long time”.
After taking a stand on and publicly expressing his views on a number of issues concerning the region, and the city’s hospitality industry over the past couple of years – particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic – Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, has officially announced today that he has made the decision to announce the Labour Party.
The co-founder of Parklife Festival and Warehouse Project was appointed to the role of Night Time Economy Adviser by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham back in 2018.
He is the first ever person to hold the position in the city-region.
Taking to Twitter this morning to share the news that he has joined the Labour Party, Sacha Lord, explained: “I have today joined the Labour Party. This is a move I’ve wanted to make for a long time.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We need a change in Government and I fully support Labour in their ambitions to lead the country.”
I have today joined The Labour Party.
This is a move I've wanted to make for a long time.
We need a change in Government and I fully support Labour in their ambitions to lead the country.
Mr Lord says he hopes in joining the Labour Party, he can help to give the region “a louder voice” – but has ruled out becoming an MP.
ADVERTISEMENT
Explaining more about his decision, Mr Lord said: “This is a move I have been wanting to make for a long time, and the current political circumstances have hastened this ambition [as] I have seen the positive difference that Andy [Burnham] has made during my time working with the mayor’s office, and I want to support him in giving Greater Manchester and the North West a louder voice.
“Young people and young families today must be given the same opportunities I was given throughout the early stages of my career under the previous Labour Government.
“Not only was entrepreneurialism encouraged, but there were policies in place to help people get their first steps on the property ladder or discover new career paths, both geographically and across industry sectors.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Over the past 12 years, I’ve watched the Conservatives take away these opportunities, by quashing ambition, limiting entrepreneurship, and implementing policies that restrain our cultural progress and our ability to work with our international counterparts.
“We need a change in Government and for me, the only party to deliver opportunity is the Labour Party.”
Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser to Greater Manchester / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography
Mr Lord says he “fully supports” the Labour Party in its “ambitions to lead the country”, and that he looks forward to “working even more closely with the party going forward.”
Lucy Powell – MP for Manchester Central and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – has also welcomed Lord to the party.
“I’m really pleased Sacha has taken the step to join Labour,” she explained.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’s got enormous experience in business and has been an incredibly strong voice for hospitality and the night time economy, both during COVID and the cost-of-living crisis, and he will be a huge asset to our party.
Mr Lord’s decision to join the Labour Party also comes after former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville – who now heads up several business and property interests in Manchester city centre, alongside his work in football punditry and commentary – also famously joined the party back in January 2022.
Neville has also been vocal on a number of similar issues to Lord over the past couple of years.
Featured Image – Sacha Lord
News
‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Two arrested after assaulting and burgling 90-year-old woman in Stockport suburb
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested following reports of an assault and burglary at a 90-year-old woman’s home in a Stockport suburb.
While en-route to the incident in Heald Green – which was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at around 2:30am on 29 October – officers located the victim’s vehicle being driven by an unknown man.
The stolen vehicle made off from police before it lost control, went up a grass verge, and collided with a stationary vehicle.
Police confirmed that a white British man, aged 41, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a burglary and serious assault, while a white British woman, aged 47, was also later arrested on suspicion of burglary and serious assault – with both remaining in custody for questioning.
The victim, a 90-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being supported by specialist officers, although luckily, her injuries are not life-threatening.
Enquiries are now ongoing, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the shocking incident.
“This was undoubtedly a traumatic experience for the victim, and we have specialist officers supporting her through this investigation,” explained Detective Inspector Craig Turner, from Stockport CID.
“This was a violent burglary and thanks to the brave victim reporting it, our officers made two swift arrests with the suspects taken into police custody to be interviewed.
“We believe this was a targeted attack and there is no wider risk to the community. Extra patrols of officers have been deployed to the area to offer reassurance to members of the community. Please let them know if you have any concerns.
“We are committed to tackling dangerous offenders and keeping our communities safe from harm.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2022 
