Green Party calls for Referendum on Greater Manchester Devolution

News of the devolution deal [1] between the 10 Greater Manchester Councils and the Coalition Government took most people in the region by surprise. 

Also surprising was the news that the Devolution was conditional on the region accepting an elected Mayor as part of the deal.

Though the agreement, negotiated out of view of the public, brings some services under local control [2] there are no additional resources that would not likely come to the region anyway. In fact, Manchester Council is facing an additional £60 million in cuts. [3]

Laura Bannister, Green Party general election candidate for Manchester Gorton, said, "When Scotland voted on devolution in September, it was seen as a high water mark of democracy with 84.6% of the population voting [4]. The debate and discussion leading to the referendum took place over two years. No such process has happened in Greater Manchester."

Chair of Manchester Green Party, Deyika Nzeribe agreed, "The Green Party is in favour of devolution when done correctly. It has to be discussed and accepted at a local level. The Green Party therefore calls for a consultation of the people of Greater Manchester, followed by a referendum, to decide whether we want devolution and if so, what form it should take. This is the biggest governance change in Manchester in a generation - people have a right to decide this for themselves. We will work with others to make this happen."

Since the devolution announcement, a popular campaign has formed to get a referendum for the people of Greater Manchester. The campaign, ‘DevoManc’ is encouraging people to sign its online petition [5] and have a Day of Action on Saturday 10^th January 2015 with petition signings all over the Greater Manchester [6].

Notes

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/devolution-to-the-greater-manchester-combined-authority-and-transition-to-a-directly-elected-mayor
2. http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Elected-Mayor-For-Greater-Manchester
3. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/prime-minister-david-cameron-warns-8064096#rlabs=14
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_independence_referendum,_2014
5. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/people-must-have-right-to-vote-on-devo-manc
6. https://www.facebook.com/events/392412037594684/

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Keeping the Hulme Mural...

The Hulme Mural is a vast and vibrant public artwork in Hulme Manchester, comprising six 14 foot panels of sculpted clay along the Hulme Library wall.

It was designed and made by Hulme Urban Potters – a collective of students and tutors at the Hulme Adult Education Centre to mark the turn of the century, and was completed and installed in 2002. The mural depicts some of the key moments in the history of this important Manchester community, and has become a local landmark.

It was unveiled by actor and comedian Johnny Vegas saying: ”I think it is a really important piece of work that promotes local history and a true sense of pride for the people and place it represents. It’s amazing.”

The then City Council Chief Executive member for Culture and Leisure Glynn Evans said: “I’m highly delighted that Hulme Urban Potters have entrusted this fantastic piece of work to Manchester Libraries. The Mural is a celebration of Hulme and it is quite right that it should remain at the heart of the local community”.

Less than ten years later, the community now fears for the future of the Hulme Mural. Consultations are underway about the future of Manchester’s library service, and there are fears that if the Hulme library closes, the building will be sold or worse still, demolished.
Johnny Vegas has now added his voice to the campaign to save the mural saying: “I’d be really disappointed if the mural was damaged or lost due to the closure of the library. It’s a fantastic piece of art work that should be enjoyed by the local community for many years to come.”

Please add your voice to the campaign to save the Hulme Mural by signing the petition. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savehulmemural/signatures

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