Our spirit will drive us forward in 2018
ANDY BURNHAM was elected the first mayor of Greater Manchester in May. Here, he reflects on his first seven months in office, and looks ahead to 2018...
THIS year I left the old, pointscoring, Westminster politics behind and I’ve not missed it for a second.
I spent 16 years as MP for the brilliant people of Leigh and I tried to fight that London-centric culture that still pervades in this country. In the end, I concluded the best way to make real change was to leave that system behind and challenge it from the outside.
After all, that is what Manchester has been doing for centuries.
In 2018 our city-region will celebrate 100 years of Women’s suffrage – a movement that began in Moss Side – 150 years of the Trade Union Congress – founded in Manchester’s Mechanics Institute, and 70 years since the opening of the first NHS Hospital in Trafford.
This place has always been the home of far-reaching forward-thinking. We’re known for driving change from the bottom up.
To have been elected the first Mayor of Greater Manchester was a humbling experience and I’m proud to represent the people of this incredible place.
The best part of it is the chance to build a new way of doing politics from the ground up and let people write the policies that will shape the future of Greater Manchester.
On every issue, we’ve sought to take on board the views of those who know them best. Our plans to end rough sleeping by 2020 were developed by charities and people with lived experience of homelessness.
Our strategy to make Greater Manchester a leading digital city has been put together by experts as part of my Digital Summits.
Our overarching ambition for the future, the Greater Manchester Strategy, was co-designed by all parts of the public sector with help from businesses, voluntary community social enterprise organisations and members of the public.
Homelessness and rough sleeping have been the defining issues of this year.
All councils now ensure emergency support is given as soon as temperatures drop to freezing, rather than the legally-required three days. The generosity of local people has helped raise £135,000 for my Homelessness Fund.
Starting next year more than 200 properties will be made available that will provide accommodation alongside health support for homeless people. I know things remain incredibly tough for people living on the street.
We will not stop until we have ensured everyone has a safe and secure place to stay by 2020.
As we go in to 2018, transport too will come to the fore.
The north has been treated as second-class for too long when it comes to transport investment. The clappedout trains, packed roads and unreliable buses have had their day.
We will look to bring some order to the chaos and improve our transport system.
By using the powers we now have to improve local buses and by holding transport bosses to account I believe we can make 2018 the year when we get the transport system we need for a 21st Century city-region.
But as we look forward we will never forget all of those affected by the horrific Manchester Arena attack. Many of us are still coming to terms with what happened and the city is still recovering.
Those who attacked us sought to divide us but they failed.
The spirit of Manchester shone through in our darkest time and it remains as strong as ever. Just last week we saw the teddies that were left in tribute at St Ann’s Square being given out to children after being cared for by an army of volunteers. Another act of kindness and solidarity from a place that I’m so proud to be part of and represent.
Our spirit of togetherness and determination is what will see us move forward in this coming year as we make Greater Manchester the best place to grow up, get on and grow old.