Friday 6 October 2023

Whilst the ‘red wall’  crumbled in the 2019  General Election, it remained relatively intact in Manchester, which makes the decision of Rishi and his right wingers to sweep into town, for their 2023 Conference, a rather odd choice. But what did we learn as the governing party descended onto our doorstep…

On conference eve, Saturday 30 September, rumours of the axing of the Northern third of the HS2 project are already circulating. Meanwhile, I set out to the theatre to watch Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of Great Expectations.

It is stunning; a narrative true to Dickens’ original tale (and what a tale!) but set in Bengal around the era of partition. The music and aromas of India make for a beautiful production and the skilful interweaving of the two cultures intensifies the themes of social mobility, love, and justice with additional layers of colonialism and racial tension. At times, the insults hurled at native Pipli (Pip) by the young Estella, brimming with loathing for his ‘smell’ and ‘greasy hair’ and nationality make for uncomfortable listening. They do however make us look at the classic tale with fresh eyes and new relevance.

As we spill out in to the mild Autumn night, to wend our way home, the audience is a buzz. The mood on the streets lively, as the city has also hosted ‘Busted’ at the Arena and the BBC Philharmonic at the Bridgwater Hall this evening. The trams are, mercifully,  fantastically frequent.

‘Thank the Lord for a decent local transport system’, think I,

But what news on those intercity links?

The next morning, grey clouds are gathering  across the skies, but do they foreshadow the events that are to unfold?

Rishi appears on ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg‘. From a Salford studio, a stones throw from the centre of Manchester, the proposed destination for the HS2 London link, he is asked repeatedly about the rumours that the project it to be pulled. There is no straight answer forthcoming,

 “I’m not going to comment on all this speculation. We’ve got a project, we’ve got spades in the ground and we’re getting on with it but it’s right to focus on levelling up.”

Two days later, in a diversion from talk of trains, we get Suella Braverman. It is hardly light relief! In fact, if I found some of the language in Great Expectations unpleasant, as Suella hits her vocal stride, I feel my jaw hit the floor in shock. In a speech, described as ‘unhinged‘ by the Guardian, the, reportedly, wannabe leader of the true-blues, rains down bile and hatred on liberalism, the human rights bill and … of course foreigners, warning of a ‘hurricane‘ of mass migration coming to the UK. 

And we end with Rishi himself, using his speech to finally confirm the worst kept secret of the week; that the high speed rail link will now only run from London to Birmingham. There’s no apology, rather in a defiant patronising piece of rhetoric, Sunak expects ‘northerners’ to be grateful, as he commits to spending ‘every penny‘ of the money saved on levelling up projects across the north.

Does anyone believe a word of it?  Well let me tell you of one such proposal in our town. They announce funding of a tram extension to Manchester Airport which, as the MEN points out … already exists!

“This will come as a shock to those who’ve been using the Metrolink line to Manchester airport since [checks notes]…. November 2014”

Come on Rishi! If you want a shred of credibility, do your blinking homework!

Perhaps he just doesn’t care. Any old back of a fag-packet rubbish, (don’t panic PM, I am still currently of legal age for cigarettes) will do to keep us quiet! If they perpetuate the narrative that these afterthoughts represent great opportunity for the beleaguered regions, do they hope, we will start to buy it? 

It worked for Miss Haversham and Estella,

“Her contempt was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it.”

Pip in Great Expectations: C Dickens

let’s hope the residents of the North are more resilient.

The Tory circus rolls out of town after that, and this resident is not sorry to see them go. Very much like Dickens’ ruling classes, the disconnect between our government and the lives of so many of us feels unbridgeable now. They bestowed neither cheer nor respect upon our region and they brought some awful weather with them! Foreboding skies and incessant rain dogged the city throughout their stay. But this weekend is warmer and feels more optimistic. There is after all a general election next year…