ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Exclusive: 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/) 131
Reposted by ophiraDan Hayes @danhayesjourno.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Amid all the brilliant investigations done by The Mill, beautiful, evocative, moving pieces like this are so much of what makes it special. 0147
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Big Drama in @manchestermill.bsky.social yesterday. If you've already read it, don't worry, we're working on a part 2. 131
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Normally I'm not best pleased at having to work on a Saturday, but editing this piece by @jackdulhanty.bsky.social might have actually been the highlight of my day.manchestermill.co.ukGoodbye to Trafford Park's Kellogg's factoryFor sixty years, someone with the name ‘Dulhanty’ has worked at the Kellogg’s factory. Last week, that ended 42313
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Adam Gough is sitting front row of the nursery obstacle race when his phone goes off with a bing. It’s sports day here at Alderley Edge School for Girls: the 19th of June, a clear day. About 70 parents are gathered in the sports field. The email arrives at 9am on the dot... 132
Reposted by ophiraDarach Ó Séaghdha @darach.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Was Ms Rabbit in Peppa Pig involved in the Madchester scene? That’s that @manchestermill.bsky.social are asking today. The evidence is compelling… 1195
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Why, in an episode of Peppa Pig, does Ms Rabbit receive a medal with (almost) the Factory Records logo on it? This morning, we fail to answer the hardhitting questions over at @manchestermill.bsky.social. (There's also quite a lot about growth and policing and oysters in the newsletter). 184
Reposted by ophiraArlene Finnigan 💙 @arlenefinnigan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Bloody hell, this is quite the listen. The company director sounds unhinged. 032
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Last night Garry Bridges beat Tom Robinson by ONE VOTE to become the leader of Manchester council, to which the response was a resounding: "who?" So let's look behind the scenes at the fight to become the 2nd most powerful politician in Manchester (after the MP for Makerfield).. 143
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Mill writers @jackdulhanty.bsky.social and @ophiraophira.bsky.social get between the lines of our weekend read on the questionable 'Educate & Empower' fundraisers. Run of the Mill podcast out now: open.spotify.com/episode/2Yh7...open.spotify.comThe absurd truth behind Educate and EmpowerThe Run of The Mill · Episode 233
Reposted by ophiraPete @pgtips.bsky.social · 29/08/2026"we go to meet him in his offices – which, it feels reasonable to stress, are Snow White and the Seven Dwarves themed" 011
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Ever been harangued in the street by fundraisers and wondered - is this a scam? Well, if they worked for Educate & Empower, then the man behind them is the below charming multi millionaire. Two days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting him in his Snow White themed office... (1/) 132
Reposted by ophiraA random tech person @greentechperson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Excellent piece of investigative journalism 011
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 24/08/2026As promised, today for @manchestermill.bsky.social I answer the all-important question: was Tony Wilson really SEVEN FOOT TALL? And what do his nearest and dearest think of plans to build a statue of him in a random part of Salford? First up, his ex wife Lindsay Reade... (1/many, sorry) 11410
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Remember in 2021 when the leader of Oldham Council had her car petrol bombed? Well, as The Mill can now confirm, it's all been downhill from there.... (1/) 185
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 13/07/2026A student walks into Salford University’s support office and douses themselves in petrol. “Not as theatre,” they would later write, “but as a last available language”... (1/) 131
Reposted by ophiraPam Nash @pamnashes.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Excellent reporting by @manchestermill.bsky.socialmanchestermill.co.ukThe bizarre story behind the ‘Salford University rape cover up’ postersFor months an anonymous figure has been levelling accusations at the university. We finally spoke to them 173
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 13/07/2026One of the more difficult stories I've had to report on came out yesterday. Over the last few months, posters have been appearing all over Greater Manchester, claiming that Salford University is covering up a rape. Naturally, multiple Mill readers asked us to look into them (1/) 195
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Another Burnham banger from The Mill. Arguments in the comment section already... 141
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 12/06/2026In March 2023, two men who have been inseparable for 16 years fell out spectacularly in Austin, Texas. And while the encounter did not lead to a saloon bar shootout, it did briefly threaten one of the closest and most productive relationships in British politics... 131
Reposted by ophiraJoshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 25/05/2026The original was edited by @ophiraophira.bsky.social, who would not dream of cutting a cat reference. manchestermill.co.uk/stop-looking... 082
Reposted by ophiraCarsten Timmermann @ctimmermann.bsky.social · 28/03/2026Ah, @ophiraophira.bsky.social at the Mill worked out which Manchester school was at the centre of last week’s book-banning story manchestermill.co.uk/revealed-the...manchestermill.co.ukRevealed: The famous school at the centre of a book-banning scandalThe Salford school tells us they ‘don’t recognise’ the librarian’s version of events 0115
Reposted by ophiraJennie @unabridgedopinions.com · 26/03/2026It is such a relief to have a paper like @manchestermill.bsky.social as our local paper! This story really did worry me (it still does), and having the Mill on it means those of us in the community will have a better understanding of what is going on. 0115
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Last week, an article was published by Index on Censorship about a book banning scandal, and a battle between an anonymous librarian and an unidentified school. Based on loose evidence and a strong hunch, I found the librarian and the school in question. You might have even seen the school on TV... 134
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 21/02/2026The Greens know that popularity is more about branding than anything else. Take Hannah-the-plumber. She’s not one of those politicians that everyone hates — she’s a plumber! She eats pasties on Instagram and shows up to our interview with a sausage roll. 3288
Reposted by ophiraJoshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 21/02/2026This is such a fun piece about Spencer from @ophiraophira.bsky.social - by miles the best profile written about her. @manchestermill.bsky.social has had an exceptional by-election (with none of my involvement, I should add) 👏👏 manchestermill.co.uk/reform-hanna...manchestermill.co.ukReform are on the rise. Can Hannah the plumber put a spanner in the works?‘There’s more shit in politics than I’ve ever found in somebody’s toilet’ 033
Reposted by ophiraJoshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 21/02/2026“There’s more shit in politics than I’ve ever found in somebody’s toilet.” I mean that’s just a great line from Hannah The Plumber. 1136
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Over the past few weeks there’s been a spate of graffiti across Manchester and Salford, casting aspersions against various local businesses — crude tags calling Pollen Bakery “Homo-Phobic”, or claiming that The White Hotel “hate Palestine”. 121
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 06/01/2026One of our most popular stories of the year, @ophiraophira.bsky.social takes on the surprisingly sinister world of Manchester's tour guides. Warning: this story involves scheming, theft, impersonation, flag-snapping, people pushing each other off benches, false anecdotes about Oasis, and gimps.manchestermill.co.ukInside Manchester’s tour guide turf warsStolen customers, broken flags, physical fights: have the people taking us around Manchester lost their way? 131
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 03/01/2026Not long ago, I got a tip off from a reader who'd seen my piece about Manchester's warring tour guides. She told me of a similar battle going on between the burger vans outside Old Trafford - mostly run by women from Odsall: "salt of the earth... but you'd rather have them as friend than foe". 185
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/01/2026Leandra is one of the longest-serving women at the Old Trafford Burger vans. Her mum owned her van before her, and brought her to work since she was a baby. 172
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 03/01/2026Walk by Old Trafford on a match day evening and you’ll mostly see men eating burgers. But if you'd passed by a few hours earlier you’d have seen something different: local street traders, mostly women, staking their vans onto numbered pitches, heating vats of tea for the drawn-out night ahead... 151
Reposted by ophiraCarsten Timmermann @ctimmermann.bsky.social · 15/11/2025Nice hommage to the 192 bus by @ophiraophira.bsky.social: The bus route that became a cornerstone of Mancunian life manchestermill.co.uk/192-manchest...manchestermill.co.ukHow the 192 became Manchester’s museThe bus route that became a cornerstone of Mancunian life 253
Reposted by ophiraAndy @agh96.bsky.social · 08/11/2025This is good from @manchestermill.bsky.social - even if Karney comes across as positively unhinged to the point of being a liability for the Councilmanchestermill.co.ukMeet the man taking on Manchester's 'Christmas Refusniks''I would start Christmas in August if I was allowed to' 143
Reposted by ophiraAdam @afcbrodie.bsky.social · 09/11/20253. Bit of a jarring shift in tone from the above, but Ophira Gottlieb's Mill piece about the Christmas-obsessed Councillor Pat Kearney is packed with perfect lines of writing. manchestermill.co.uk/big-wheel-pa...manchestermill.co.ukMeet the man taking on Manchester's 'Christmas Refusniks''I would start Christmas in August if I was allowed to' 183
Reposted by ophiraBrian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 09/10/2025Inside Manchester's tour guide turf wars. 0124
Reposted by ophiraJohn Hodson @mgcroadster.bsky.social · 09/10/2025If Bill Forsyth can be persuaded out of retirement for a sequel to COMFORT & JOY, then here's the pitch... 174
Reposted by ophiraThe Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 09/10/2025This may all seem innocent but, behind the scenes, the people in charge of showing other people around Manchester are engaged in a constant turf war, one of stolen customers, destroyed equipment, false reviews, and the occasional physical scrap. Read the full story by @ophiraophira.bsky.social heremanchestermill.co.ukInside Manchester’s tour guide turf warsStolen customers, broken flags, physical fights: have the people taking us around Manchester lost their way? 041
Reposted by ophiraGavin Kelly @gavin-kelly.bsky.social · 05/10/2025Some of the most thoughtful social commentary atm is coming via @manchestermill.bsky.social manchestermill.co.uk/jews-and-mus...manchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 02714
Reposted by ophiraCraig Almond @alarmingcod.co.uk · 05/10/2025After all the bluff and bluster of the last few days online, this is a personal and quietly moving piece on life in North Mancheter. More quality writing from @manchestermill.bsky.socialmanchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 0157
Reposted by ophiraA Poor Player @apoorplayer.bsky.social · 05/10/2025Once again @manchestermill.bsky.social gets to the heart of a thing. I found this moving but also thought @ophiraophira.bsky.social 's honesty about her response to another community's fear important too. 093
Reposted by ophiraDan Hayes @danhayesjourno.bsky.social · 05/10/2025If you read one thing today, please make it this by @ophiraophira.bsky.social at @manchestermill.bsky.social. A moving, honest story about the Crumpsall terrorist attack and the long history of Jews and Muslims in North Manchester.manchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 1139
Reposted by ophiraEmrys Francys 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ @ryaloren.bsky.social · 05/10/2025Another exceptional, thought-provoking piece of writing from #themanchestermill. This is exactly the kind of journalism we should be seeing after events like last week's heinous attack. manchestermill.co.uk/jews-and-mus...manchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 099
Reposted by ophiraCarsten Timmermann @ctimmermann.bsky.social · 05/10/2025More great writing via @manchestermill.bsky.social. Nuanced and personal piece on Jewish and Muslim lives in Cheetham Hill, by @ophiraophira.bsky.social manchestermill.co.uk/jews-and-mus...manchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 01713
Reposted by ophiraJoshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 05/10/2025Jews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story. Fantastic piece by @ophiraophira.bsky.social, who has covered the attack for @manchestermill.bsky.social like no other journalist. Read this alongside the other news coverage. manchestermill.co.uk/jews-and-mus...manchestermill.co.ukJews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’ 12715
ophira @ophiraophira.bsky.social · 03/10/2025The whole Mill team went to Crumpsall yesterday to meet the community affected by yesterday's attack. We spoke with them, and prayed with them - many of whom were so deep in prayer for Yom Kippur, they didn't even know that two people had been murdered just down the road. 1136
Reposted by ophiraErin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Since many of you are distracted by other things or not following any Jewish media, you should know that today, on one of the holiest days of the year, a man drove his car into a crowd gathering to go into a Synagogue in Manchester then got out and started stabbing people. Two people are dead. 17953391
Reposted by ophiraJoshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 02/10/2025My colleague @ophiraophira.bsky.social got into a makeshift synagogue nearby and witnessed this amazing scene. 051