Andy Burnham, Gary Neville and Tim Heatley are among the many big names in Greater Manchester coming together for the new OneGM campaign – which has been created to provide essential support to the region under Tier 3 restrictions.
Greater Manchester is set to receive around £65 million to keep the local economy ticking over – significantly less than what leaders argue is necessary.
In order to provide help that “goes beyond the package of government support,” some of the region’s most influential people are now uniting for OneGM.
A press conference confirming the launch of OneGM took place on Tuesday (27 October).
Yesterday’s #oneGM launch was such a positive and powerful event. All walks of GM life coming together and pledging to help people through a difficult winter. Watch out for more details soon.
Leaders across sectors announced their intention to contribute, including Chris Oglesby, CEO of Bruntwood; former Manchester United footballer and businessman, Gary Neville; award-winning actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh; Right Reverend Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester; and Lucy Danger, CEO of EMERGE.
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Others included Diane Modahl, Chair of the Greater Manchester Young Person’s Task Force and Trustee of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity; Karina Jadhav, Founder and Owner of Menagerie bar and restaurant; and Liz Taylor, CEO of corporate events company TLC Ltd.
Burnham stated: “While we didn’t get all the support from Government we asked for, I want to reassure everyone that I will do everything I can to help those suffering from hardship so people can live their lives with as much dignity and comfort they deserve.
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“I’m humbled to see so many people come together under the oneGM campaign to unite the city-region and provide whatever support people need. We are all committed to making sure our economy and people come out of this pandemic ready to thrive and I hope others will join us too.”
Hotel Football and Salford City FC owner Neville added that “the business community in Greater Manchester is working closely together to establish a sustainable way forward.”
“We cannot continue with inconsistent and reactive direction,” said the ex-United star.
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“It’s draining the confidence of many and causing great distress.”
Chair of the Mayor’s Charity, Tim Heatley said that it was “right all sectors come together and do whatever we can to help those who need it most.”
“Our new fundraising drive aims to get local support to those hardest hit by the economic impact of Covid by tackling food poverty, supporting those experiencing or at risk of homelessness to providing mental health support,” Heatley said.
“I would urge anyone who wants to help to donate whatever they can and be part of the oneGM campaign.”
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
The Manc -
28th October 2020 
