2021 get off to an encouraging start as the first story About Manchester ran was news that the UK’s Chief Medical Officers revealed okays for the single shot vaccine roll out. They wrote, “We have to ensure that we maximise the number of eligible people who receive the vaccine”.
However, the government were under pressure to keep schools closed as the country recorded 50,000 cases for the fifth day running on the 2nd January. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham warned of the chaos returning to school would cause commenting, “What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.”
As Prime Minister Boris Johnson recommended children should ‘absolutely’ go to school where they are open insisting schools were safe on an appearance on the Andrew Marr show. Labour leader Kier Starmer would later insist that the country should be locked down again as figured showed that 50,000 new cases had been recorded for the sixth day running.
Greater Manchester saw over 100 fines given out over New Year for breaching Covid restrictions, police shut down a rave attended by around 40 people while a pub in Marple Bridge Stockport was fined for serving customers in breach of Tier 4 rules.
The Prime Minister would later tighten restrictions and put the country back into lockdown in an attempt to regain control of the spread of the virus. Greater Manchester MP’s responded negatively to the swift change in strategy.
The closing of schools created a debate regarding school aged children all having access to devices and data to aid their online learning. Andy Burnham said that the country needed an immediate national effort to ensure every school-age child, and every 16-18 year-old, has access to a device/data.
The education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that GCSEs, A Levels and AS Level exams would not go ahead in the summer.
Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, called on the Chancellor to ‘double down and remember the UK’s lost sectors’ ahead of the upcoming Budget in March.
The Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed that Britons travelling from high-risk countries will go into hotel quarantine. Patel told the House of Commons that people are still not isolating when they need to confirming the point that going on holiday is not an essential reason to travel.
Prestwich councillor Tim Pickstone was confirmed be the first person in 70 years to be Mayor of Bury for a second consecutive term.
Morrisons became the first major supermarket in the country to ban customers who do not wear a face covering. People who did not have a mask will be offered one by security staff, but turned away if they did not accept it. Policing minister Kit Malthouse said police would intervene in serious breaches of COVID rules in shops, but measures imposed and enforced by owners would be effective in most cases.
Stretford received a £17.6 million windfall which was a major boost to Trafford Council as the funding meant it could push forward with ambitious plans to totally transform the town as part of its Stretford Masterplan.
Evuna launched a brand new service ‘Evuna At Home’ the full tasting menu included, Hams, Cheeses and Chorizo (veggie option too), a choice of Tapas, finished with a classic Paella. During the lockdown this trend continued as hospitality companies adapted.
What The Pitta, which had recently voted the UK’s number one kebab at the British Takeaway Awards opened its first site in the north, bringing its vegan kebabs to the residents of Manchester. The brand had its sights set on Manchester, aiming to integrate with the city’s vibrant food scene – with many popular options available for vegans.
Author and Manchester Writing School lecturer Dr Monique Roffey’s book The Mermaid of Black Conch won the Costa Novel Award – one of the country’s most prestigious popular literary prizes.
It was revealed that Greater Manchester film maker Danny Boyle would be directing and producing a six-part TV series about 1970s punk icons the Sex Pistols. The six-episode series is based on the group’s Steve Jones’ 2018 memoir “Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.”
Former Oldham Mayoress, Kathleen Hudson, who dedicated her life to charity work and civic duties, died after a short illness. Kathleen was wife to veteran Conservative Councillor John Hudson OBE, who also served as Mayor of Oldham between 2013 – 2014.
Tributes were paid to the England and Manchester City midfielder Colin Bell, who died aged 74 following a short illness. Bell was part of City’s 1967-68 First Division title-winning team and scored 152 goals in 492 games for the Manchester club between 1966 and 1979.
Manchester United roundly condemend the racial abuse of Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial. The pair were targeted on Instagram following the defeat at home to Sheffield United. A club statement said Manchester United has zero tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination and a long-standing commitment to campaigning against it through our All Red All Equal initiative.
Later in the month Marcus Rashford was racially abused after a goalless draw against Arsenal. The striker replied on twitter “I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am.”
The deal to take over Wigan Athletic Football Club collapsed after the administrators revealed that the Spanish bidder had reduced their offer by 50 per cent.
Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks announced the appointment of former club captain Alex Sanderson as Director of Rugby. It came after the Manchester-based club reached an agreement with Saracens to release Sanderson from his contract.
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, Hashem Abedi and Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan were both charged with assaulting a prison officer in HMP Belmarsh
A man who carried out brutal knife attacks on two lone women just days apart in Oldham was jailed for life. Jayden Hayes carried out the horrific attacks in the Derker area of Oldham during November 2019, searching for lone female victims while riding his bicycle after nightfall.
The Greater Manchester Police Economic Crime Unit recovered over £3 million for victims of fraud in 2020 it was revealed. The unit focusses on getting money back for victims where they can, as well as working to educate the public on the latest scams, what to look out for and how to protect themselves and their hard earned money.
