Beth Abbit

The newsletter leads with an interview with Manchester comedian Rachel Fairburn, who discusses her new character-based show Vexy Beasts, Mancunian humour, growing up in Harpurhey and her true-crime podcast All Killa No Filla. Fairburn also recalls her fascination with 1990s television, including Ghostwatch. Other coverage highlights photographs of a partial solar eclipse seen across Greater Manchester, continuing congestion and construction on the A57 Mottram bypass, and a 30th-anniversary look at Oasis’s landmark 1996 Knebworth concerts.

Local campaigners led by Joanna Allsop are opposing plans to remove greenbelt protection from a 192-acre site between Astley and Boothstown for housing, business space and leisure facilities. Wigan Council will consider the proposal on September 2 as part of the Places for Everyone planning framework, which requires 16,527 new homes in Wigan between 2022 and 2039. Campaigners fear development would remove a valued recreational landscape and merge the two communities. The newsletter also highlights a planned partial solar eclipse, a Manchester resident’s move from New York to Wythenshawe, and Bobby Gillespie’s memories of Primal Scream, the Hacienda and Manchester’s music scene.

Comedian Rachel Fairburn discusses her Harpurhey upbringing, lifelong fascination with ghosts and serial killers, and the decade-long success of her podcast All Killa No Filla with Kiri Pritchard-McLean. She explains how working while performing made it difficult to establish a comedy career and argues that stand-up has become increasingly gentrified because wealthier performers have greater financial security and industry connections. Fairburn also talks about her new character-based Edinburgh Fringe show, Vexy Beasts, her Manchester accent and humour, and her belief that comedians should challenge people in authority rather than treat them with admiration.

The newsletter leads with the unresolved disappearance of Ron Ellis, who vanished from Northwich in 2010 and is presumed dead. Cheshire Constabulary Detective Sergeant Paul Davis says a heated late-night phone call may be an important lead, while police are seeking information from potential witnesses connected to a gay sauna and assuring the LGBTQ+ community that disclosures can be confidential. Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig is expanding baby-bundle distribution and has pledged free bus travel for 11- to 16-year-olds from January 2027. Other items cover a survivor of a bus-station incident, designer Jess O'Riley's upcycling of abandoned festival equipment, the return of the Manchester Caribbean Carnival, new NHS mental-health hubs, Andy Burnham's comments about his father, and opposition to PETA's attempt to make the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships vegan.

The newsletter highlights Stanley Chow’s free MCR Made exhibition of giant inflatable portraits at Manchester Arndale, featuring figures including Noel Gallagher, Emmeline Pankhurst and Alan Turing. It then covers Bev Craig’s victory in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, noting her 66% share of preference votes but historically low 25.14% turnout. The piece describes the prolonged count, Craig’s victory rally and staffing concerns at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority following departures to Number 10 North. Other items include a celebrity-backed campaign to protect Jodrell Bank Observatory from potential closure, anger in Stockport over uncollected bins with open lids, and praise for the Federation of Jewish Services as a model for social care.

Greater Manchester’s incoming mayor will face formidable expectations, including tackling child poverty, homelessness, housing shortages, transport costs, inequality and regional economic disparities. More than 169,000 children—28% of children in the city region—were living in poverty in the year ending April 2025, with Coldhurst in Oldham recording a 57% rate. The closely contested mayoral election, led by Labour’s Bev Craig and Reform UK’s Sian Astley, will determine who controls billions in funding and responsibilities spanning the Bee Network, policing oversight, regeneration, adult skills and aspects of health policy. The newsletter also highlights a case involving inadequate housing provided to an abuse survivor and profiles 85-year-old pub cleaner Nora Jones, who continues working after 45 years.

The Manchester Evening News has launched a campaign urging UK Research and Innovation to restore funding for the e-Merlin telescope network, warning that scientific observations at Jodrell Bank could end in April 2028. The Lovell Telescope’s historic role in radio astronomy, space exploration and Cold War surveillance is highlighted, along with the potential impact on about 3,000 scientists. The University of Manchester is seeking alternative support from government, industry, charities and philanthropists, while the observatory’s educational visitor centre is expected to remain open. The column also recalls Sir Bernard Lovell’s encounters with Soviet officials and Jodrell Bank’s later cultural role through Bluedot Festival and performances by artists including Björk.

Andy Burnham, newly serving as Prime Minister, returned to Manchester to open the Number 10 North government headquarters and defended his plans on devolution, social care and ending rough sleeping, while ruling out a snap general election. Louise Haigh outlined the government’s aim to move decisions and investment away from London. Manchester is also preparing to host the G20 summit, potentially bringing Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to the city, while Barack Obama is expected at Co-op Live later in the year. Elsewhere, Jodrell Bank Observatory faces possible closure after UKRI withdrew annual funding, moorland fires remain active around Greater Manchester, and Manchester Day attracted thousands despite rain. The newsletter also introduced a new podcast focused on Burnham’s first week as prime minister.

Andy Burnham begins his premiership with a pledge to end rough sleeping, echoing his commitments as Greater Manchester mayor, where he made progress but fell short of the goal. Homelessness advocates urge a national Housing First strategy, while local charities praise Burnham’s record of personal involvement. His first day in office includes a meeting with the King, a speech outlining a ten-year plan for Britain, and an initial call with US President Donald Trump. Supporters gather at Downing Street, and reflections on family influence highlight the personal significance of the moment. Cabinet reshuffles begin as several senior Starmer allies depart their roles.

Illustrator Stanley Chow created a new portrait of Andy Burnham for the Manchester Evening News to mark Burnham’s first day as Prime Minister, adding symbolic details such as the Number 10 door and a more formal appearance. Chow reflects on his long-standing connection to Burnham, which began during the political disputes over lockdown measures in Greater Manchester. The article recounts Burnham’s clashes with the former Conservative government and discusses past incidents involving Chow’s artwork, including an AI-generated misuse shared by Nigel Farage. The piece highlights Chow’s artistic process, his relationship with Burnham, and the significance of contributing to the newspaper’s historic front page.