The scenes of crime and disorder in Manchester on Tuesday evening was a shock to everyone.
The pictures of young people and police running through the streets of the city were disheartening BUT that was balanced out by the way Manchester citizens came together in the morning to clean up the centre. Many came away from their efforts with ‘I ‘heart’ Mcr’ drawn one their faces.
Most of the local reaction has condemned the violence with Manchester City Council spokesman, Pat Karney telling the BBC that it was ‘one of the worst days Manchester has ever seen’.
Councillor Karney was also seen showing Labour leader Ed Miliband around the city.
Given the scale of the disturbances, people have been asking ‘Where is Council Leader Richard Leese?’
A meeting on Tuesday afternoon of community activists in Moss Side discussed what action could be taken to prevent disturbances in the area. At one point, the Chair mentioned that he had tried to contact the Council Leader and Deputy Leader Jim Battle only to be told they were both on holiday. While that drew some laughter, its not so funny now.
Leaders are needed in times of trouble, even the Prime Minister and Mayor of London realised that eventually.
“I ‘heart’ Mcr”? Well, be in Manchester.
That's right, they should be here making cheap political capital out of the rioting and looting like every other respectable politician.
ReplyDeleteThe Manchester Evening News today praised the contributions of Cllr. Pat Kearney regarding the riots, but I found what he had to say predictable, vaccuous and irrelevant. Hardly a surprise as he's part of the political establishment that has let down the people over the past few decades.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Hulme Green!