Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been busy splashing the cash on panels to push its grand strategy to be “a place where all voices are heard and where, working together, we can shape our future.” Whatever that actually means…
UK DOGE’s The Waste Files has uncovered that while King of the North Andy Burnham isn’t busy laying the groundwork for his next leadership bid, he’s been getting on with some other, equally pressing matters. The GMCA has forked out a
staggering £472,500 contract to fund its ‘Equality Panels’, supposedly to help tackle
“structural and organisational prejudice and discrimination” and
“advise, support and challenge” Greater Manchester’s political leaders on matters that cause
‘injustice and inequality’. A
further £52,500 has gone to a Faith and Belief Advisory Panel,
and £54,000 to the Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority—bringing the grand total to £579,000.
For that you could:
And that’s just the live contracts. In 2021-23, the GMA splurged £650,000 on these panels. The taxpayer may have a view on which should be prioritised. UK DOGE recommends costs are cut here…
