WHERE’S OUR MONEY?
SIX MONTHS ON FROM THE BOMB, THE GOVERNMENT STILL HASN’T PAID THE £17m EXTRA CASH IT PROMISED THE CITY IN THE AFTERMATH
THE government has been accused of letting Manchester down in its ‘hour of need’ by failing to pay a £17m bill for the aftermath of May’s Arena bombing.
Nearly six months after Manchester was devastated by its worst-ever terror attack, police, health and council services are still waiting for the funding they had expected from Whitehall. It is understood so far Greater Manchester Police is facing a bill of around £9m – including the cost of bringing in emergency help from other forces.
Support provided by health and council services, such as counselling for people caught up in the blast, has left a further £8m financial black hole. Senior Manchester councillors have now accused ministers of ‘moral bankruptcy,’ arguing that where Mancunians and people from across the world had come together to support victims, government had failed. Finance chief Coun John Flannagan told a town hall meeting that the city had been promised financial help by the government.
“The prime minister came with ministers responsible for communities and offered support – said they’d be there for us,” he said.
“Unfortunately, they haven’t been true to their word. The cost implications to police and health is over £17m.
“The most important thing is that we are there for the families and the victims of this terror attack and where the government fails, Manchester will not. I find it very difficult that we now have a government that doesn’t carry out its primary role, which is to look after its citizens in their hour of need.”
Veteran city centre spokesman Pat Karney also hit out at ministers, adding that in 1996 – when the IRA bombed the centre of the city – the Conservative government of the time had stepped up to the plate.
He said: “When we had the IRA attack in 1996, I sat in a room with Richard Leese and John Major – the prime minister – and Michael Heseltine said, ‘What do you want us to do to help Manchester?’ And true to their word, they followed through and they helped Manchester.”
He added: “If government can’t respond to emergencies and terror attacks there’s a moral bankruptcy at the centre of government.”
It is understood that on top of the shortfall already facing services, the council is expecting up to £10m more to come down the line due to the cost of coroner’s services, social care and administration.
In September, Chancellor Philip Hammond told the M.E.N £185,000 had already been provided to give psychological support to children and young people in the aftermath of the attack. He also said ‘some of the costs’ related to the attack were ‘still emerging, so we will continue to work with the authorities to assess changing needs.’
Councillors agreed to go to Downing Street to press their complaint.
A government spokesman said: “We stand with the people of Manchester as they recover and rebuild following the horrendous arena attack earlier in the year.
“Where pressures have arisen – both in the immediate aftermath, and as services continue to support the community – we are considering requests very carefully.
“We are absolutely committed to working with the relevant organisations to ensure that they have effective plans in place to support the people of Manchester.”