Sign in

The Mill

@manchestermill.bsky.social
7K followers 49 following 799 posts

Manchester's quality newspaper. Sign up now - we only publish via email. Send tips to our reporters @ophiraophira.bsky.social, @jackdulhanty.bsky.social, @lucymclaughlin.bsky.social and @alecherron.bsky.social

PostsRepliesMedia
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 17h
The attacks have divided Salford, prompting public outrage, as well as praise, across social media. The message, scrawled in black paint over doors and walls - "NO HMOs" - appears unambiguous, but the facts behind it are considerably less so. manchestermill.co.uk/whats-happen...
manchestermill.co.uk
‘Migrant HMOs’ in Salford are under attack. But is everything as it seems?
How one city became the centre of a social media circus
033
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 17h
A neighbour, Dwayne, says: “They’re not all HMOs... mostly there are just ethnic people living here.” Yet for others, they feel concerns around HMOs for asylum seekers are ignored. "I don’t want anyone who I know nothing about – young men all of them – moving in", a local says.
136
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 17h
‘Migrant HMOs’ in Salford are under attack. But is everything as it seems? We spoke to a woman whose home has been targeted. She's black and says she doesn't live in an HMO at all - she and her four kids were asleep when their windows shattered. Her new car was damaged too.
72523
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Exclusive: The Mill can reveal that a former senior member of staff at the University of Manchester is named on a research paper linked to Chinese spies manchestermill.co.uk/uom-academic...
manchestermill.co.uk
UoM academic co-authored paper linked to Chinese espionage
Plus: a rather cryptic request
023
Reposted by The Mill
Martin SFP Bryant @martinsfp.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Fascinating read about how Shein is skirting around its problematic fast-fashion reputation by launching Musera, a Manchester-based clothing brand. @manchestermill.bsky.social
manchestermill.co.uk
Unmasking Musera: the dark secret of a Northern Quarter clothes brand
How a sweatshop empire is Manchester-washing its reputation
0106
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The report was commissioned in light of our reporting last year, which uncovered the "sleazy" behaviour of senior officials at a 2024 awards ceremony. Read the full write-up by @jackdulhanty.bsky.social here: manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re...
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: Report finds "toxic" harassment and "boys' club" culture at Manchester council
An 'unparalleled' investigation shows a third of staff surveyed have experienced bad behaviour from senior officials
021
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The Mill has obtained a damning internal report on Manchester City Council, as yet unreleased to staff. It found a toxic "boys' club" culture, where senior staff acted inappropriately to junior colleagues with impunity.
133
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Managers spoke openly of "hatred of Muslims and non-whites." A young apprentice was repeatedly sexually harassed by a senior colleague until she was forced to leave the council — while “he was allowed to stay." Inside Manchester City Council 👇
136
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This report was commissioned in light of our reporting last year, which uncovered the "sleazy" behaviour of senior officials at a 2024 awards ceremony. Read the full write-up by @jackdulhanty.bsky.social on the Mill.
010
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Managers reportedly spoke openly of “hatred of Muslims and non-whites.” One worker recalled a young apprentice being repeatedly sexually harassed by a senior colleague until she was forced to leave the council. “He was allowed to stay,” they said of the offending staffer.
110
Reposted by The Mill
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Exclusive: The Mill has acquired an internal report, to be released to council staff today, describing a culture of racism and sexual harrassment with impunity at Manchester City Council 👇👇👇(1/)
141
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
CEO Tom Stannard says the findings are “deeply concerning." Read the full story here: manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re...
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: Report finds "toxic" harassment and "boys' club" culture at Manchester council
An 'unparalleled' investigation shows a third of staff surveyed have experienced bad behaviour from senior officials
020
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The review was commissioned after we revealed last year that senior officials behaved inappropriately toward young women on the council’s graduate scheme at its 2024 awards night.
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Just 30% said those who raise concerns are treated fairly afterwards. The report describes a “shield” that lets well-established or high-performing staff get away with more.
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Staff also accuse managers of speaking openly about their “hatred of Muslims and non-whites.” Others describe being called “stupid” or “incapable,” and one was reportedly referred to as the “team’s toilet.”
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
32% of MCC staff have seen inappropriate behaviour from leaders. Only 2% say it was ever properly dealt with.
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
One worker recalled a young apprentice being repeatedly sexually harassed by a senior colleague until she was forced to leave the council. “He was allowed to stay,” they said of the offending staffer. “She was interviewed by two male managers and needless to say she left.”
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: Report finds "toxic" harassment and "boys' club" culture at Manchester council
An 'unparalleled' investigation shows a third of staff surveyed have experienced bad behaviour from senior officials
020
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
When we approached the council, CEO Tom Stannard said: “it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel undervalued, unable to raise concerns, unsupported if they do or – in the worst cases – unsafe. These issues cannot and will not be ignored.”
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Report finds “toxic” harassment and “boys’ club” culture at Manchester council. We've obtained an internal document alleging widespread inappropriate behaviour by senior staff. By @jackdulhanty.bsky.social. manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re...
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: Report finds "toxic" harassment and "boys' club" culture at Manchester council
An 'unparalleled' investigation shows a third of staff surveyed have experienced bad behaviour from senior officials
263
Reposted by The Mill
Cody Coyne (he/him) @unimuse.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
If you aren't a member, consider joining (or even just signing up for the free part) - this is local journalism done well!
043
Reposted by The Mill
Angela Powers @angepowers.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Worth a read (good work guys 👍)
043
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Phillip Hanks' solicitor denies that he ever claimed The Mill bribed Educate and Empower, but we head back to our offices, determined to get to the bottom of what's going on. Read the full story below: manchestermill.co.uk/bribes-a-def...
manchestermill.co.uk
Bribes, a defamation lawsuit and Elf nicotine pouches: What’s been going on at Educate & Empower?
‘If you pay us loads of money, we’ll take it down’
030
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
So when we're stopped by an Educate and Empower employee just last week, who asks us for a "£5 contribution", we're startled to hear what he has to say: our article is not true. More than that, E&E has supposedly filed for defamation, and The Mill even tried to bribe the company...
120
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
In August, we found evidence that the company fails to pay staff, and that Educate and Empower's co-director, Phillip Hanks, verbally abused an 18-year-old former employee for requesting his wages. Even the charities and schools E&E claim they work with told us that simply isn't true...
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Ever since The Mill wrote an article on Educate and Empower, the fundraisers in navy jackets who people on Reddit often accuse of being a scam, there's one question we've been itching to know: what's been happening inside their office since we published?
134
Reposted by The Mill
Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Labour's candidate in Holborn & St Pancras "has served the community for over a decade as a volunteer and trustee for local charities". But @the-londoner.bsky.social struggled to find these charities and Labour wouldn't send a list. Here's a fellow trustee from the one they found.
12310
Reposted by The Mill
Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Another big name confirmed for our Future of GM Summit later this month: Duncan Ivison, vice chancellor at UofM. Bev Craig is also confirmed. And what a time to be talking about the future of this city... www.tickettailor.com/events/millm...
063
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Can Burnham Sheikh off Abu Dhabi story? The world looks to Manchester, but not in a good way manchestermill.co.uk/can-burnham-...
manchestermill.co.uk
Can Burnham Sheikh off Abu Dhabi story?
Plus: We hit our campaign target!
044
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Other parts were heavily redacted...
041
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
At one point, the agreement says that the council will from time to time, “provide a Land Acquisition Strategy to ADUG for its approval”. That strategy document will “identify target sites”, “analyse relative land values” and “provide supporting feasibility and funding strategies”.
231
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Here's our original story. It got a lot of attention in Manchester when we reported it, but today it's become a national talking point. It was broken by @jackdulhanty.bsky.social. manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-sh...
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: The contract that gives Sheikh Mansour first dibs on Manchester
Plus: Mark Garner explains the sudden implosion of his website Confidentials
172
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In July last year, we revealed that Manchester council had signed a 10-year deal giving Man City's Abu Dhabi owners "right of first refusal" on the sale of council land across whole stretches of East Manchester. Today, it's on the front page of the Sunday Times, crediting us.
74219
Reposted by The Mill
Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The eye-popping deal that gave Abu Dhabi ‘right of first refusal’ over large stretches of Manchester is on the Sunday Times front page - with a credit to @manchestermill.bsky.social where @jackdulhanty.bsky.social broke the story.
2176
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The inside story of a city’s relationship with Abu Dhabi ‘You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
197
Reposted by The Mill
David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Great piece on the importance of Abu Dhabi to the City’s success with the Council’s acquisition of the upgraded Commonwealth Games athletics stadium at its core. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
076
Reposted by The Mill
Dan Hayes @danhayesjourno.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Brilliant piece of journalism from my colleagues at The Mill on Manchester City, the city of Manchester, and Andy Burnham.
098
Reposted by The Mill
Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The crisis has pushed Burnham to confront the glaring contradiction at the heart of his project. To come out and bat for Real Manchesterism — the very successful, morally compromised, rather neoliberal doctrine whose success became his success. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
143
Reposted by The Mill
TheParisAngel @theparisangel.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Probably the most balanced thing I've read in a week or two and, thankfully, something I actually understand as it's my job. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
5215
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Exclusive: A senior council official told a meeting: ‘You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’. The inside story of Manchester and Abu Dhabi - by @joshih.bsky.social, @alecherron.bsky.social & @jackdulhanty.bsky.social. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
0116
Reposted by The Mill
Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
New piece: I've written about Manchester's relationship with Abu Dhabi and how this scandal has forced Burnham to re-adopt old doctrine: Bernsteinism. With @jackdulhanty.bsky.social and @alecherron.bsky.social - featuring some scoopy details. manchestermill.co.uk/man-city-bur...
manchestermill.co.uk
A very Mancunian scandal: How Man City forced Andy Burnham to face his past
We tell the inside story of a city's relationship with Abu Dhabi, including notes that show a council official saying: 'You don’t criticise the council’s relationship with the football club’
11412
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
manchestermill.co.uk
manchestermill.co.uk
Join The Mill
Manchester's quality newspaper, delivered via email.
022
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
We're also currently only nine members away from hitting our target of 5,000 members! Sign up with the link below to join the team reviving local journalism.
110
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
🚨🚨ATTENTION🚨🚨 Right now there are 19 hours left to grab this discounted membership for The Mill. But that's not all...
132
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Is ‘Liverpoolism’ what we have been actually talking about all along? Forget Manchester, Liverpool runs the Labour Party now manchestermill.co.uk/forget-manch...
manchestermill.co.uk
Forget Manchester, Liverpool runs the Labour Party now
Scousers are at the wheel, and driving for Mancunian devolution
234
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Is Manchester a dirty city? Whatever your opinion, there's a company making money off our rubbish. Let's meet them... manchestermill.co.uk/fixed-penalt...
manchestermill.co.uk
No ifs no butts: why smokers – and non smokers – are being hit with huge fines
Are litter fines making a difference, or just a killing for private business?
010
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
400 down - 100 to go! We're almost at our target of 5000 fully fledged Mill members. Our discounted prices end on Sunday - £2 off the first two months, or £20 off the whole year. Take advantage of it while you can. manchestermill.co.uk/more-than-ne...
manchestermill.co.uk
More than news: Help us get to 5,000 Millers
Join our new campaign!
034
Reposted by The Mill
alecherron.bsky.social @alecherron.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Litter is a bugbear of mine. I can't get my head around why someone would think it's OK to drop their rubbish. I set off to find out if the council's outsourced environmental enforcement was making a difference. Turns out there was a lot more going on. manchestermill.co.uk/fixed-penalt...
manchestermill.co.uk
No ifs no butts: why smokers – and non smokers – are being hit with huge fines
Are litter fines making a difference, or just a killing for private business?
023
Reposted by The Mill
Doug HS 😶‍🌫️ @doug-hss.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is a good read. We have similar company in Liverpool and people have been collared by lurkers wearing body cams. Litter is a big problem and needs to be dealt with, somehow. Is this the right way?
011
The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“I’m paying not far off £200 a month on council tax, and they’re spending it on this s**t?” Are the cigarette butt finers of Manchester acting with integrity, or scooping up easy money? manchestermill.co.uk/fixed-penalt...
manchestermill.co.uk
No ifs no butts: why smokers – and non smokers – are being hit with huge fines
Are litter fines making a difference, or just a killing for private business?
110
Reposted by The Mill
Dan Whitehead @danwhitehead.net · 29/09/2026
This is a great offer - @manchestermill.bsky.social is offering 400 free year-long subscriptions to 16-25 year olds.
manchestermill.co.uk
Postcode Lottery
Manchester's quality newspaper, delivered via email.
023