This Council notes that over the last 12 years the Conservative government has caused immeasurable damage to the residents of Manchester and the entire United Kingdom including:-

 

·                The unprecedented Government public service cuts, increased costs from spiralling inflation, increased demand for services, higher energy costs have left our economy on its knees, and the vulnerable, most at need and hard-working residents, families and households shoulder the impact of funding shortfalls

·                The housing crisis leaving millions forced to live in unsafe and uninhabitable properties as shocking conditions are being endured by households despairing at the lack of action, increasing mortgage and rental payments, while younger generations are unable to enter the housing market;

·                The NHS struggling to cope with record demand and waiting times, social care services are stretched to the limit without a plan to put the health and social care system on a sustainable footing;

·                The justice system in crisis with court backlogs reaching unprecedented levels, leaving victims, witnesses and defendants waiting years for justice, with rising crime and fewer police;

·                The signature “levelling up agenda”, is just empty rhetoric as inequalities widen;

·                The slow progress on developing long term regulatory strategies post- Brexit reducing the UK’s competitiveness, productivity and openness to trade with the world largest trading bloc and reduced British influence in the world;

·                The misconduct in public office through a series of scandals including holding parties at 10 Downing Street during Covid lockdowns and the failure to deal with misconduct in ministerial office by senior Conservative MPs; and

·                The mismanagement of the economy, real terms reductions in salaries, the devaluation of sterling.

 

This Council believes:-

 

·                The economic, political and environmental permacrisis and state of flux indicate that despite the attempts of four prime ministers since 2016, a succession of chancellors, secretaries of state, and u-turns the government has run out of ideas, credibility, and confidence having spectacularly failed to deliver on its own promises;

·                Despite the financial challenges over the last decade, Manchester Labour and our Council staff have worked tirelessly to challenge the government to provide a fairer funding settlement and ensure Manchester remains a great place to live, work and play, and remain ambitious for the future of the City;

·                The Conservative government is implementing a programme far removed from the 2019 manifesto, written before the pandemic and current economic crisis

·                The City has no confidence in the new UK Prime Minister and Government to act in the best interests of the citizens of Manchester and the UK; and

·                Any “difficult decisions on the public finances”  and further sacrifices by the British public should be subject to a new mandate that has gained public endorsement and constitutional recognition

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

(1)      Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chair of the LGA to request all local leaders who over the last 12 years have worked tirelessly for their places to impose maximum pressure on the government to call a general election.

(2)      Ask the Leader of the Council to write to Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister; Ian Blackford, Leader of the SNP at Westminster and Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats urging them to support any motion tabled to stop this blatant abuse of power.

(3)      Ask the Leader of the Council to call on Councillors and MPs of all parties to put our country and our community first and demand an immediate general election so the public can decide on the future of Britain.

 

Proposed by Councillor Stogia, seconded by Councillor Richards and supported by Councillors Ilyas, Chambers, Kamal, Reid and Simcock

Councillor Stogia proposed the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Ilyas:-

 

This Council notes that over the last 12 years the Conservative government has caused immeasurable damage to the residents of Manchester and the entire United Kingdom including:-

 

·                The unprecedented Government public service cuts, increased costs from spiralling inflation, increased demand for services, higher energy costs have left our economy on its knees, and the vulnerable, most at need and hard-working residents, families and households shoulder the impact of funding shortfalls

·                The housing crisis leaving millions forced to live in unsafe and uninhabitable properties as shocking conditions are being endured by households despairing at the lack of action, increasing mortgage and rental payments, while younger generations are unable to enter the housing market;

·                The NHS struggling to cope with record demand and waiting times, social care services are stretched to the limit without a plan to put the health and social care system on a sustainable footing;

·                The justice system in crisis with court backlogs reaching unprecedented levels, leaving victims, witnesses and defendants waiting years for justice, with rising crime and fewer police;

·                The signature “levelling up agenda”, is just empty rhetoric as inequalities widen;

·                The slow progress on developing long term regulatory strategies post- Brexit reducing the UK’s competitiveness, productivity and openness to trade with the world largest trading bloc and reduced British influence in the world;

·                The misconduct in public office through a series of scandals including holding parties at 10 Downing Street during Covid lockdowns and the failure to deal with misconduct in ministerial office by senior Conservative MPs; and

·                The mismanagement of the economy, real terms reductions in salaries, the devaluation of sterling.

 

This Council believes:-

 

·                The economic, political and environmental permacrisis and state of flux indicate that despite the attempts of four prime ministers since 2016, a succession of chancellors, secretaries of state, and u-turns the government has run out of ideas, credibility, and confidence having spectacularly failed to deliver on its own promises;

·                Despite the financial challenges over the last decade, Manchester Labour and our Council staff have worked tirelessly to challenge the government to provide a fairer funding settlement and ensure Manchester remains a great place to live, work and play, and remain ambitious for the future of the City;

·                The Conservative government is implementing a programme far removed from the 2019 manifesto, written before the pandemic and current economic crisis

·                The City has no confidence in the new UK Prime Minister and Government to act in the best interests of the citizens of Manchester and the UK; and

·                Any “difficult decisions on the public finances”  and further sacrifices by the British public should be subject to a new mandate that has gained public endorsement and constitutional recognition

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

1.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chair of the LGA to request all local leaders who over the last 12 years have worked tirelessly for their places to impose maximum pressure on the government to call a general election.

2.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister; Ian Blackford, Leader of the SNP at Westminster and Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats urging them to support any motion tabled to stop this blatant abuse of power.

3.         Ask the Leader of the Council to call on Councillors and MPs of all parties to put our country and our community first and demand an immediate general election so the public can decide on the future of Britain.

 

Councillor Johnson moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Nunney and accepted by Councillor Stogia (proposer). In accordance with Rule of Procedure 20.3, the amendment was incorporated into the motion.

 

Councillor Nunney moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Johnson and accepted by Councillor Stogia (proposer). In accordance with Rule of Procedure 20.3, the amendment was incorporated into the motion.

 

The amended motion was as follows:

 

This Council notes that over the last 12 years the Conservative government has caused immeasurable damage to the residents of Manchester and the entire United Kingdom including:-

 

•               The unprecedented Government public service cuts, increased costs from spiralling inflation, increased demand for services, higher energy costs have left our economy on its knees, and the vulnerable, most at need and hard-working residents, families and households shoulder the impact of funding shortfalls

 

•               The housing crisis leaving millions forced to live in unsafe and uninhabitable properties as shocking conditions are being endured by households despairing at the lack of action, increasing mortgage and rental payments, while younger generations are unable to enter the housing market;

 

•               The NHS struggling to cope with record demand and waiting times, social care services are stretched to the limit without a plan to put the health and social care system on a sustainable footing;

 

•               The justice system in crisis with court backlogs reaching unprecedented levels, leaving victims, witnesses and defendants waiting years for justice, with rising crime and fewer police;

 

•               The signature “levelling up agenda”, is just empty rhetoric as inequalities widen; 

 

·                Similarly, the government has veered away from taking the promised actions to protect and restore the natural environment and has taken decisions that severely jeopardise even the inadequate Net Zero-by-2050 target.

 

•               The slow progress on developing long term regulatory strategies post- Brexit reducing the UK’s competitiveness, productivity and openness to trade with the world largest trading bloc and reduced British influence in the world;

 

•               The misconduct in public office through a series of scandals including holding parties at 10 Downing Street during Covid lockdowns and the failure to deal with misconduct in ministerial office by senior Conservative MPs; and

 

•               The mismanagement of the economy, real terms reductions in salaries, the devaluation of sterling.

 

This Council believes:-

 

•               The economic, political and environmental permacrisis and state of flux indicate that despite the attempts of four prime ministers since 2016, a succession of chancellors, secretaries of state, and u-turns the government has run out of ideas, credibility, and confidence having spectacularly failed to deliver on its own promises;

 

•               Despite the financial challenges over the last decade, Manchester Labour and our Council staff have worked tirelessly to challenge the government to provide a fairer funding settlement and ensure Manchester remains a great place to live, work and play, and remain ambitious for the future of the City;

 

•               The Conservative government is implementing a programme far removed from the 2019 manifesto, written before the pandemic and current economic crisis

 

1.         Most gravely, this programme puts at risk progress towards mitigating the effects of the Climate Crisis and safeguarding biodiversity and as such runs counter to this Council’s own urgent priorities in this regard;

 

•               The City has no confidence in the new UK Prime Minister and Government to act in the best interests of the citizens of Manchester and the UK; and

 

•               Any “difficult decisions on the public finances” and further sacrifices by the British public should be subject to a new mandate that has gained public endorsement and constitutional recognition

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

1.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chair of the LGA to request all local leaders who over the last 12 years have worked tirelessly for their places to impose maximum pressure on the government to call a general election.

 

2.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister; Ian Blackford, Leader of the SNP at Westminster and Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democratsand Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, co-leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales urging them to support any motion tabled to stop this blatant abuse of power.

 

3.         Ask the Leader of the Council to call on Councillors and MPs of all parties to put our country and our community first and demand an immediate general election so the public can decide on the future of Britain.

Resolution

 

The motion, as amended, was then put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it was carried unanimously.

 

Decision

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

1.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chair of the LGA to request all local leaders who over the last 12 years have worked tirelessly for their places to impose maximum pressure on the government to call a general election.

 

2.         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister; Ian Blackford, Leader of the SNP at Westminster and Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democratsand Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, co-leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales urging them to support any motion tabled to stop this blatant abuse of power.

 

3.         Ask the Leader of the Council to call on Councillors and MPs of all parties to put our country and our community first and demand an immediate general election so the public can decide on the future of Britain.

 

(The Lord Mayor adjourned the meeting for ten minutes)