Matt Gallagher

The news that Greater Manchester Police Authority have decided to cancel their swanky dinner at the 5 star Lowry Hotel is to be welcomed, but Greater Manchester’s hard-pressed tax payers may be less pleased to learn that they may still have to stump up for it.

“This lavish party at a five star hotel, where champagne can cost £275 a bottle, should never have gone ahead in the first place and its disgraceful that it was only cancelled because too many people pulled out. Paul Murphy, Labour’s Police Chief, is out of touch when he think taxpayers should pick up the bar tab. It is appalling that the dinner has already been paid for and the money may not be refunded.

If this is the case, I believe that GMPA should ask Victim Support to identify victims of serious crime across Greater Manchester and invite them to take their place at this bash. GMPA could at least salvage something from this cock up by recognising that the victims of crime should be our first consideration, not an afterthought.