Today is your last day to register to vote in Greater Manchester’s local and mayoral elections, as the deadline ends at midnight tonight.
With less than a month to go until the big election day arrives, residents across the Greater Manchester region are being urged to make sure they’re registered to vote and have their voter photo ID ready, so that they’re able to head to the polls and have their say on who makes the important decisions that affect them.
In order to vote in the local and mayoral elections on Thursday 2 May, Greater Manchester residents must register before midnight tonight (Tuesday 16 April).
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) April 14, 2024
This year, residents across Greater Manchester will be voting in two elections, with residents in Salford voting in three elections.
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These are for the Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority – who is a major figure in the political life of the city-region, with unique powers and responsibilities – and for local Councillors, who are elected to represent their local area and residents, and get to contribute to the development of local policies too.
On top of this, Salford residents will also be voting for The Salford City Mayor too, who is Salford’s political, strategic, and community leader, and has overall responsibility for the delivery of all council services.
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In case you aren’t quite up to speed, nominations for Mayor candidates closed on Friday 5 April, and that means there’s a total of six people standing in the third election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester – with current Mayor, Labour and Co-operative’s, Andy Burnham, being one of them.
The candidates nominated to stand in the election for the Mayor for Greater Manchester Combined Authority are:
Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats)
Dan Barker (Reform UK)
Nick Buckley (Independent)
Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative)
Laura Evans (The Conservative Party
Hannah Kathrine Spencer (Green Party)
Today is your last day to register to vote in Greater Manchester’s local and mayoral elections / Credit: Manchester City Council | gov.uk
As always, there are different ways to vote in the elections next month.
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You can either do so at your local polling station, by post, or by proxy – which means appointing someone to vote on your behalf – with the deadline to apply for a postal vote in these elections being 5pm this Wednesday (17 April), and the deadline for applying for a proxy vote being 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
As mentioned, residents will need to show a valid form of photo ID at the polling station, such as a passport, driving licence, some types of bus pass or proof of age card, or a free Voter Authority Certificate.
According to GMCA, every registered voter in Greater Manchester will have started to receive an election booklet explaining more about the election, and election addresses prepared by each of the candidates, in the post from yesterday (Monday 15 April), as required by law.
More information about the elections taking place in Greater Manchester, including information about voter ID, registering to vote, and applying for a postal or proxy vote, can be found at www.gmelects.org.uk.
Featured Image – gov.uk
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Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
BREAKING: Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to a form of cap on squad spending ahead of regulations being formulated, Sky News understands.
The proposed spending cap wouldn’t come into effect until the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”
Featured Images — SonoGrazy (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Fan charged over tragedy chanting during Manchester United vs Burnley match
Danny Jones
A man from Lancashire has been charged for tragedy chanting during the game between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford this weekend.
Nathan Rawlinson from the town of Bacup in the Rossendale Borough was charged with Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and has since been bailed after being detained.
The 44-year-old was arrested by Greater Manchester Police’s Specialist Operational Football investigation team after he was reported tragedy chanting in the away section of Old Trafford on Saturday, 27 April.
Videos of the Burnley fan which have since been largely removed began circulating online not long after the full-time whistle of the 1-1 draw, with various accounts urging GMP and fans to help identify him.
Credit: X (various)
Issuing a statement following the incident, authorities said: “As we have enforced recently, continued incidents of tragedy chanting by anyone will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.
“We understand the interest this case will have generated but it is imperative that the suspect has a fair trial so members of the public must refrain from engaging in conversations online, at least until proceedings have concluded. Previously circulated videos should be removed.”
As for Burnley FC themselves, the club issued a swift response, stating: “We are aware of offensive footage currently circulating on social media from the away end of today’s fixture at Old Trafford.
“Tragedy-related gesturing and chanting is completely unacceptable, and Burnley Football Club take a zero-tolerance approach. We will continue to work with Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police and Manchester United to help identify and prosecute the individuals responsible.”
We welcome the swift action from the GMP and we continue to assist in every way possible.
Burnley Football Club maintains a zero tolerance for such behaviour and anyone found guilty will receive the strongest ban possible. https://t.co/ZNT6aQJHix
Sadly, despite urges from clubs like Man United and Liverpool, tragedy chanting continues to be a prevailing problem up and down the country and there have been numerous instances in 2024 already.
A dedicated Premier League was set up in 2023 to try and curb the behaviour, working with supporter groups, local police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
New and harsher measures have been put in place this season to crack down on the behaviour and people found guilty of offences can face stadium bans, criminal prosecution and even jail time.
It has no place in football, simple as.
There is no place for football tragedy abuse in our game. We strongly condemn this behaviour and sanctions are in place to ensure anybody found guilty faces consequences.
We continue to treat this as an unacceptable issue and fully support Burnley FC, Manchester United and the…
Emily Sergeant -
16th April 2024 
