Sacha Lord has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Government, demanding to know if the taxpayer coughed up for food and alcohol at their rumoured Christmas party.
The nighttime economy adviser for Greater Manchester, and Parklife and Warehouse Project boss, says the alleged festivities are ‘insulting’ to the nation, who were in lockdown at the time.
Downing Street has been accused of hosting parties during the national lockdowns at the end of 2020, after a damning report in the Mirror.
The Prime Minister himself as well as up to 50 colleagues allegedly broke lockdown rules with a leaving do in November and a Christmas do in December.
Sacha Lord / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography
Lord has said today that he is “fuming” at the situation and that he’s “not going to let this one go”.
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Speaking on Talk Radio today, Lord said: “I am so angry about this. I’m fuming.
“To me this is worse than the Bernard Castle, it’s worse than the G7 back-slapping, it’s worse than Matt Hancock’s affair.
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“We know that Christmas week, we could not see our friends, family and loved ones.
“My industry was shut down. I understand the reasons for that and it was probably the right thing to do.
Lord has said today that he is “fuming” at the situation and that he’s “not going to let this one go” / Credit: Unsplash
“But at the same time there was a Christmas party in 10 Downing Street, with 40-plus people where they were drinking, they were playing games, they were eating, they were having fun.
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“How insulting is that?”
“I want to know who attended that party and I also want to know who paid for the alcohol and for the food? Was that taxpayers, was that our money whilst we were in complete lockdown?
“So many times we’ve let things drift but I’m not going to let this one go.”
The Government now has 20 days to respond to the FOI request, which has asked for details of the events and money spent on alcohol.
Boris Johnson / Credit: UK Parliament
Gary Neville also launched a scathing attack on the Conservative party yesterday.
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He tweeted: “Are we really going to let this Number 10 party go? No chance!
“Last Xmas was a misery. Listening to him standing up there telling us what we couldn’t do. Families not seeing each other , loved ones dying alone.
“Whilst him and his cronies party in a tax payer funded residence !”
Gary Neville, writing to Bolton North East’s MP Mark Logan, said: “I am writing to you to ask for an explanation as to why the residents of Bolton had to lockdown last Christmas whilst the Prime Minister was partying with his colleagues and friends.”
The letter, posted on Twitter, continues: “We need MPs to stand up and show the courage to do the right thing and speak out against wrongdoing and admitting when it has taken place?
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“Unfortunately, this follows a pattern (such as Dominic Cummings and Barnard Castle). Hancock, Johnson and no doubt many others are living by different rules.
“I think the constituents of Bolton would appreciate it if you asked the PM for the list of attendees and/or asked a similar question at PMQs. Trust and accountability matters.
“A response would be very welcome.”
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons / Darren Robinson Photography
News
The Makers Market is coming back to Cutting Room Square every month as of this Sunday
Danny Jones
The North West’s hugely popular Makers Market is returning to Ancoat’s Cutting Room Square as of this weekend, marking the start of a monthly community staple.
While Makers Markets have been popping up around the region for years now — Stockport, Cheadle, Salford and Media City; Knutsford, Northern Quarter, Didsbury, Congleton and countless other locations — it’s only ever been at Cutting Room Square just the once as part of a trial run back in November 2022.
However, after going down an absolute treat and just as popular as all the others around Greater Manchester and beyond, the organisers have decided to bring it back on a permanent basis from this weekend onwards. Ancoats just got even better.
Now, as of Sunday, 2 April, city centre residents and those travelling into town will be able to enjoy a regular community market packed with local traders from all over every month. Wonderful stuff.
If for some reason you’ve never come across a Makers Market before, the concept is pretty simple: local businesses and indie traders of all different kinds gather in public spaces like Cutting Room Square, setting up pop-up stalls to sell their wares, whatever they may be.
Whether it’d be homemade food and bakery items, handcrafted prints and textiles, or homeware, second-hand records, flowers and everything in between, there is literally always something for everyone.
More importantly, though, these monthly markets aren’t just another place to shop locally and responsibly, but they genuinely provide a wonderful sense of community, quickly cementing themselves as a regular staple for everyone to look forward to and socialise at.
Typically taking place on the second Sunday of every month and with Cutting Room Square and Ancoats already a popular district for locals and tourists alike, we’re sure the atmosphere is going to be great.
You’ve also got the successful Ancoats Pop Up events scattered throughout the rest of the 2023 calendar too — happy days.
We look forward to a year filled with plenty more markets all around Greater Manchester!
You can check out the full list of traders that will be appearing at this weekend’s Makers Market at Cutting Room Square HERE.
Graeme Park thanks fans for ‘valued support’ and launches fundraiser in memory of late son
Emily Sergeant
Graeme Park has thanked fans for their “valued support” following the devastating passing of his teenage son last week.
The former Hacienda legend and his family have also set up a fundraiser in his memory.
The DJ took to social media last week to share the heartbreaking news that his “true warrior” son Oliver had passed away at the age of 18 after a year-long battle with a rare cancer.
In a tribute to the late teenager, Graeme described his son as a “kind, loving, and beautiful soul” who “fought so hard until the very end” but was sadly taken “far too soon” when he “had so much more love to offer to this world”.
Graeme’s initial post drew in thousands of messages of love and support from the Greater Manchestermusic and entertainment community and beyond, as well as from famous name including from Vernon Kay, Sacha Lord, and DJ Paulette.
He asked fans to “bear with me” and confirmed that he will not be performing DJ sets or appearing on the radio for the time being.
Graeme with his wife Jen and twins Oliver and Ben / Credit: Graeme Park (via Instagram)
Now, a week after sharing the news of Oliver’s passing, Graeme, his wife Jen, and son Ben have taken the time to thank everyone for their “wonderful and valued support” – adding that the family is “heartbroken” to have lost a son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.
“Your messages and kind words have been well received and have offered us all some much needed strength and hope at what has been a very difficult time,” Graeme continued.
“Friends, colleagues, fans, followers and complete strangers have all been in touch in person, via phone, email and social media offering support and more, and it really has been heartwarming to read all the messages and to listen to everyone who’s called.
“Apologies if I’ve not responded to everyone, but rest assured we all really do appreciate the sentiment.
Graeme also confirmed that, after lots of discussion following so many reaching out and asking if there’s anything they can do to help, the family has decided to set up a JustGiving page in Oliver’s memory to help raise “much needed funds and awareness” for Sarcoma UK.
Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer, and campaigns for better treatments.
“After complaining of leg pain over a long period, Oliver was eventually diagnosed as having a malignant nerve sheath tumour that was a type of sarcoma, hence our decision to help Sarcoma UK,” Graeme explained.
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat – “but by donating in memory of Oliver, you can help change this.”
“Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep the specialist Support Line open, and raise awareness to improve treatment and standards of care,” Graeme concluded, “Your donations go so far in helping the sarcoma community.”
We were saddened to hear of Oliver's death. Our sincere condolences to @graemepark and his loved ones.
As Teenage and Young Adults Cancer Awareness Month starts on Sat, we are driven more than ever to raise awareness of this awful cancer that affects too many younger people. https://t.co/VrOnsvzyGA
Daisy Jackson -
7th December 2021 
