![]() The leader suspended the meeting, asking for the livestream to be paused. But a few minutes later, the protester spoke once more. However, the protester interrupted the meeting again moments later reiterating his point.Ĭoun Craig warned that the meeting would have to be suspended if he interrupts again. ![]() "How can we be a progressive and equitable city if members of our community are being treated this way? Councillor Akbar, we ask you to come and meet our member down in the reception with us."Ĭouncil leader Bev Craig told the protester that there was no opportunity for public questions and answers at the meeting and suggested that he contacts whoever he wishes to speak to afterwards by writing to them. The meeting was interrupted four times (Image: Manchester City Council) "How can you be fulfilling opportunities for our residents when a Manchester resident is unable to work due to the stress she's been put through at the hands of the council? How can you say you're tackling physical and mental inequalities when our member, a cancer survivor, can't afford to live and is having to use a foodbank and is worrying about how she is going to survive in a cost of living crisis? Within minutes of the council's executive meeting starting today (May 31), one man who was sat in the public gallery stood up and shouted: "Councillors! We are from Acorn and our member is living in poverty because Manchester council is deducting so much of her wages for council tax arrears. But there has been increase in the number of cases referred to enforcement agents recently due to a backlog caused by Covid. The local authority says support is available for those who need it and using bailiffs is a last resort. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community It comes after Acorn launched a campaign last year calling on Manchester council to stop using bailiffs, describing the practice as 'cruel'. They asked councillors to meet the woman who was waiting at the town hall reception. They claimed the woman, who is a cancer survivor, is unable to work due to the stress she has been put through 'at the hands of the council'. The two members who disrupted the meeting told councillors of a woman who is 'living in poverty' because her wages are being deducted to pay the council tax she owes. Members of community union Acorn were calling on the council to end their use of bailiffs. Protesters interrupted a Manchester town hall meeting four times today (May 31), forcing the council leader to repeatedly pause proceedings.
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