'All our communities in Greater Manchester will be kept safe': Andy Burnham issues statement on Israel-Hamas conflict

As much as £20bn could be available to fund a "modern railway for the 21st century" between Liverpool and Manchester using the money saved from scrapping the Northern leg of HS2, mayor Andy Burnham has suggested.

Labour politicians from across Greater Manchester have met with members of the Muslim community as pressure mounts on the party over its stance on the Israel-Gaza war. Mayor Andy Burnham was joined by Gorton MP Afzal Khan and council leaders from across the city-region at the meeting in Whalley Range this afternoon (October 27).

The scrapping of HS2 has left Greater Manchester with an ‘opportunity’, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has told council bosses.

Greater Manchester's civic leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.

Water levels are falling across Greater Manchester but flood alerts remain in place after heavy rain battered the region.

Knife crime has fallen by 16 per cent in Greater Manchester despite rising across England and Wales - but mayor Andy Burnham says there is more work to do be done to tackle it. The city-region still has one of the highest levels of knife crime in the country.

It's now a familiar sight on Greater Manchester's streets - taxis with 'out of town' plates. A recent investigation found that more than a third of private hire drivers - who work for companies like Uber - are actually licensed by Wolves Council, who operate 80 miles away.

One of the most powerful public officials in Greater Manchester has announced he will be retiring. Eamonn Boylan will step down as chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in May.

An international drugs boss from Greater Manchester who racked up 'eye-watering wealth' and lived a lavish 'jet-setting lifestyle' has lost an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Manchester Evening News readers have been having their say on the issue of 'out-of-town' taxi drivers after Andy Burnham said the widespread practice was 'undermining public safety'. According to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 8,952 private hire drivers licensed by Wolverhampton Council are on the roads in Greater Manchester.

A total of 24 fines are to be handed out for the notorious 'jingle and mingle' Christmas party at the Tory headquarters during lockdown. It took place in December 2020 at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) for activists on behalf of Shaun Bailey’s unsuccessful effort to be London mayor.

Andy Burnham has pleaded with people not to use taxis licensed by a council 80 miles away.

Liam Gallagher will be this week’s surprise voice for Manchester’s tram announcements.The former Oasis member and Manchester music legend is set to take over the tram announcements in celebration of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport system, and Beyond the Music festival. Gallagher will be announcing the stops as they go via some pre-recorded snippets.Beyond the Music Festival is a new fest and change-making conference that is set to take place in Manchester from October 11-14.

More than a third of private hire taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are licensed by a council that operates around 80 miles away in Wolverhampton.

October’s mini heatwave is set to end this week after the month kicked off with an unseasonable warm spell. The country has enjoyed warm and pleasant conditions over recent days with temperatures reaching the mid 20s in some areas.

Jewish leaders in Greater Manchester say they are working alongside police on security operations after Israel came under attack.

Andy Burnham says the decision to cancel Manchester’s HS2 link means the city is only ‘temporarily derailed’.

Rishi Sunak - widely expected to announce the axing of the Manchester leg of HS2 - will criticise decades of politicians making 'the easy decision, not the right one' when he takes to the stage at the Conservative Party Conference in the heart of the city.

Andy Burnham has reacted with fury after reports HS2 trains will come to Manchester - but on 'normal tracks'. Sky News tonight reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to drastically alter the northern leg of the high-speed rail project to save money, effectively scrapping the high-speed stretch to Manchester.

Rishi Sunak laughed after he was grilled by Susanna Reid about 'letting down the people of Manchester' amid reports he is planning to axe the northern HS2 leg.