Manchester joins campaign asking government to make food a ‘legal right’
Manchester has officially announced its status as a 'Right To Food' city - backing a campaign to change the law and make access to food a legal right for all.
Manchester has officially announced its status as a ‘Right To Food’ city – backing a campaign to change the law and make access to food a ‘legal right’ for all.
According to The Food Foundation, as many as 3.8 million people suffered from food insecurity due to issues such as loss of income or isolation in the early stages of the pandemic.
A survey by Childwise has since claimed that as many as 8.4 million in the UK are experiencing food poverty of some kind.
Driven by this data, the Right To Food campaign is calling on the government to make groundbreaking and potentially lifesaving changes to legislation – whereby every person living in Britain is legally entitled to food.
This week, Manchester City Council has confirmed it is backing the campaign – joining Liverpool in the process – and will be sending a letter to the government outlining its position.
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Councillor Bev Craig said: “Manchester has a proud history of fighting for peoples’ rights and the needs of our communities, not just locally but nationally. The Council is resolute in our believe that ending food poverty is a cause more than worth fighting for.
“We have refreshed our Family Poverty Strategy to reflect the COVID crisis and have supported Mancunians through the Manchester Food Partnership, the Hardship Fund and our Welfare Provision Scheme.”
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Marcus Rashford has played a key role in changing rules on free school meals in England / Image: Wikimedia Commons
The councillor added: “COVID has led to an increase in the levels of poverty across the country and, as a Council, we have been supportive of campaigns to alleviate hardship and reduce poverty such as the campaign to stop the cut to Universal Credit.
“This is why we are joining the call for towns and cities to come together and demand the Government guarantees the right to food and ends the scandal of food poverty.”
Craig also said that the council will continue to offer help wherever it is needed, “only stopping when every single family can access the food they deserve.”
Neighbouring boroughs Oldham and Rochdale have also announced that thousands of local families will get financial help for food during February half term.
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In Oldham, food vouchers of £15 will be made available for each eligible child or young person in the area – meaning over 17,000 individuals will be offered help to get enough food over the half term break.
The council is working with schools and colleges to identify and contact all eligible families, sending out vouchers that can be used at local supermarkets.
Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford – who has been leading the charge for ending food poverty in the UK – has been actively supporting Oldham by pointing residents in the direction of services via his social media.
Oldham families will be receiving food vouchers for over half term.
We’re working with schools and colleges who will issue vouchers to eligible families.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Oldham Council Deputy Leader, said the council will continue to “pressure” the government so that ministers “do not forget Oldham”.
He stated: “In these incredibly difficult times we have managed to secure enough money to ensure our vulnerable children and young people will have vital food supplies.
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“We know that, although this isn’t anywhere near the amount of money needed to support those most in need, particularly with the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, this funding will go some way towards ensuring no child in Oldham goes hungry this winter.
“We will therefore continue to pressure central Government to ensure they do not forget Oldham and its residents and call for fair funding for our borough.
“And the council would also like to remind people there are a range of benefits they can apply for to help this winter and that are means tested.”
Rochdale Council has also pledged to provide its local vulnerable residents with support during half-term.
Leader of the council, Councillor Allen Brett, said: “We have stepped in on several occasions now but a properly funded national solution is needed.
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“It shouldn’t take Marcus Rashford forcing regular U-turns – everyone should see the importance of children not being hungry. We’ll keep fighting for families and do whatever we can.”
Councillor Kieran Heakin added: “We’re offering vouchers with extra support in the form of additional food parcels from our food clubs, for families who are struggling, so that there are more options available and immediate emergency help when it’s needed.
“It’s clear that the government system does not work for families and it is about time they listened.”
Lisa Riley shares pictures with Peter Kay following heckler controversy
Danny Jones
Lisa Riley has dispelled any lingering suggestions of a rift between her and Peter Kay following a recent heckler exchange after sharing a series of snaps from his recent stand-up show.
Riley, 48, assured at the time that she wasn’t upset by the comment and urged people to simply “keep calm and laugh” and despite others continuing to be offended on her behalf, she insisted she loves the Bolton funny man “to pieces”.
Since then, she’s come to his defence on more than one occasion and after attending his live stand-up show at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, she made it clear still as good a pair of friends as ever.
Thanking the 51-year-old for an “absolutely hilarious” show, insisting “we laughed until it hurt”, she said that her family and friends stayed up until “reciting all the jokes”.
In a world, she described the show as “outstanding” and proclaimed it as “Northern at its absolute best.” High praise, indeed, even if it is from one Greater Manchester local to another and entertainment colleagues who know and love each other.
For anyone not clued up on the whole story to begin with, Kay caused a stir amongst some of his fans and the UK comedy crowd after he ejected two members of the audience back in February.
A man was escorted out of the AO Arena for repeatedly shouting his age-old stand-up catchphrase ‘garlic bread’ throughout the gig, another woman used the lapse in the set to shout ‘We love you, Peter!”, which resulted in her also being kicked out of the venue.
An admittedly unfortunate turn set of circumstances given the contrast between the nature of the two outbursts and regardless, the woman in question, Myar Curran, says she was made to feel uncomfortable and believes he was remarking on her weight – something she is already self-conscious about.
In her first TV interview, Myar Curran has told Good Morning Britain, she feels 'humiliated' after she was allegedly kicked out of the comedian Peter Kay's gig on Saturday.@LizSummers has more. pic.twitter.com/HtlHdn39dK
The MailOnline reported at the time that after asking security to remove her on the night, Kay said: “Go on, you’ve missed the ending and everything, what a shame with your f***ing big gob drinking de-icer. Out you go. Go on, Lisa Riley, f*** off. Go on. Out you pop, flower – go on. See ya’.”
In response to the controversy, Kay made a rare public statement explaining his perspective on the incident, staying simply (also to GMB): “I didn’t realise it was an insult. She did look remarkably like Lisa Riley. I didn’t realise that was an insult.”
What do you make of the whole situation; did any of the parties overreact? Does shouting a quick word of support during a break count as a heckle and was it harsh for Peter Kay to kick her out?
Up to 7,000 new homes and a ‘major’ new urban park planned for Strangeways regeneration
Emily Sergeant
Up to 7,000 new homes and a major new urban park are just some of the things proposed for the Strangeways regeneration scheme.
Both Manchester City Council and Salford City Council will be working in collaboration on the ambitious long-term regeneration for the Strangeways and Cambridge areas of the region, and the draft proposals have now been unveiled, outlining the vision that will ‘guide wide-scale investment and development’ across the 130-hectare location over the coming decades.
The draft Strangeways and Cambridge proposals present a ‘high-level vision’ for the area, according to the two Councils.
The plans include up to 7,000 new homes across seven distinct ‘neighbourhood’ areas, many of which will be ‘affordable’, increased commercial floorspace of around 1.75m sqft creating 4,500 jobs, a major new urban park.
The proposals support Manchester’s target to become a zero-carbon city by 2038 and reacts to other environmental factors in the areas.
We are working closely with @SalfordCouncil around the ambitious long term vision for Strangeways and Cambridge.
A public consultation will open soon about the long-term plan for these neighbourhoods.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) March 6, 2025
Crucially, the Councils say the proposals also reflect how HM Prison Manchester – formerly Strangeways Prison – remains a ‘significant barrier to the regeneration ambitions in this part of the city and how they will work with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) around the ‘long-term future’ of the prison.
A ‘people first’ approach to the regeneration will be prioritised, while the existing architecture and heritage buildings in the area will be celebrated.
“We know this area has challenges, but we also know that there is energy and a community brimming with potential,” commented Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“We will deliver huge change in Strangeways in the coming years, working alongside the people who live and work there, and as we move to consultation in the coming weeks, we want to speak to local people and businesses about how we can make this part of the city thrive.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, added: “The proposals in the framework seek to identify the best possible options for this area, which include the exciting opportunity to create a new city park for all, with an option for appropriate levels of mixed-use development, to continue to drive sustainable growth.
“I’d urge everyone with a vested interest in this area, whether you’re a resident or business to engage with the consultation process and work with us help shape the future of this part of the city.”
In order to discuss the proposals, Salford Council’s Cabinet will meet on Tuesday 11 March and Manchester’s executives will meet on Friday 14 March.
The Manc -
4th February 2021 
