Comments for MULE

Comment on Manchester Evening News sale spells further concentration of local media by Free Movement for All

Free Movement for All — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:31:09 +0000

While it’s true that Trinity is becoming all-powerful in the world of local media (obviously a bad thing), and I’m sure there are also going to be more cuts, can the MEN actually get any worse?

I mean it really is a terrible paper, GMG were embarassed by it. It’s not just that MEN has been making cuts so the quality’s gone down, its editorial line is just fucking horrible, it’s as bad as the Mail.

In terms of content and decent journalism I wonder whether this takeover will make the slightest bit of difference either way.

Comment on North West Development Agency celebrates 10 years by Sian

Sian — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:21:42 +0000

There is an accidental ‘those’ in that last sentence, sorry.

Comment on North West Development Agency celebrates 10 years by Sian

Sian — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:20:25 +0000

Good article Andy. I was literally just about to send you a copy of the 315 article, where Hough says on the question of his impartiality in the NWDA Chairman role: “There are rules and processes to govern any situation where I may have a conflict, just as there are for any other member of the board. It’s nothing new for a member or chairman of a board to have other interests.” Yes Robert, quite. The problem is that those by ‘other interests’ you mean ‘other pies in which I have my greedy, thieving fingers’

Comment on Severe Cutbacks at the MEN by Manchester Evening News sale spells further concentration of local media — MULE

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:24:34 +0000

[...] in the region not under Trinity’s control. The move could also see the MEN, which itself had cut staff and closed regional offices last year, be moved out of the centre of Manchester to Trinity’s offices in Oldham with further [...]

Comment on Forced labour for Jobseekers by Welfare Reform: who will it affect? — MULE

Welfare Reform: who will it affect? — MULE — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:19:44 +0000

[...] more coverage of the trial, see Patrick Smith’s article on how Jobseekers may be forced to work for as little as £1.27 per hour just to claim their [...]

Comment on Anti-fascist protesters victims of ‘Police Aggression’ by Kaze no Kae

Kaze no Kae — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:43:01 +0000

There was police repression in Manchester last October too – http://kazenokae.blogspot.com/2009/10/pigs-and-fascists-share-flag.html

Comment on Manchester Academies by Jane Eades

Jane Eades — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:20:05 +0000

A couple of points. There are now just over 200 academies. In the 2009 GCSE results 32% of academies showed a drop in results over 2008 (of those with at least 2 years of results). 54% have GCSE results below the 30% 5 A*-C with E/M benchmark.

The DCSF is now showing results for Science and Foreign Languages and it is clear that one way some academies are improving results is by vitually taking languages out of the curriculum in favour of, for example, BTECs, etc.

Finally, there is no financial benefit to having an academy (other than selling land). The new schools building programme should not be confused with the Academies programme. Warwick Mansell has reported that very little of the sponsorship money has actually been paid (a maximum of £2million) and in many cases the sponsors do not have to pay any money at all. We are told that the Building Schools for the Future money is not dependent on academisation and several local authorities are in receipt of the money and have no academies, nor plans for any.

Comment on Forced labour for Jobseekers by Manchester Jobseekers: 40 hours week workfare for 6 months | Flexible New Deal Provider Information & Flexible New Deal Scandal

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:52:55 +0000

[...] a reality Despite high levels of unemployment due to the recession jobseekers in Greater Manchester will be forced to work up to 40 hours a week as part of the Work for Your Benefits (WfYB) pilot scheme. The region is set to be the trialling [...]

Comment on Manchester Academies by Parents and teachers fight Stretford school closures — MULE

Parents and teachers fight Stretford school closures — MULE — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:24:41 +0000

[...] read more about academy schools in Manchester, and the criticisms levelled against them, see this article by MULE’s Tim [...]

Comment on Forced labour for Jobseekers by Forced Labour for Jobseekers Pilot. « Ipswich Unemployed Action.

Forced Labour for Jobseekers Pilot. « Ipswich Unemployed Action. — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:01:45 +0000

[...] Forced Labour for Jobseekers Pilot. Filed under: Campaigns for Unemployed, Welfare State, Workfare, jobseekers allowance — Tags: Unemployment, Workfare — Andrew Coates @ 4:01 pm Forced labour for Jobseekers (Via Manchester Mule here) [...]