themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--‘We’ve seen nothing like this since the 1930s’ - how will Greater Manchester’s economy bounce back f

‘We’ve seen nothing like this since the 1930s’ - how will Greater Manchester’s economy bounce back from coronavirus?

The British economy is teetering on a precipice .
While inevitably the public ’ s immediate attention - and that of ministers - has been on the health impacts of Covid-19 , economic decisions taken in the coming days and weeks could define a generation or more , by determining just how damaging and prolonged the aftershock proves to be .
For Greater Manchester , the worst-case scenario could mean the brutal reversal of a delicate revival .
Much of the conurbation ’ s prominence nationally in recent years has been based on its economy - or at least elements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hit when industry last collapsed in the 1970s and 1980s .
That process has been varied and fragile , with some communities struggling much more than others .
Now , just as the national political agenda was finally tipping towards them , the coronavirus hits .
Everywhere you look , the economy here is vulnerable .
Starting with the engine at the centre , Manchester was found to be among the most exposed of all cities and big towns nationally by the think-tank Centre for Cities last week , estimating around 30pc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable ’ or ‘ very vulnerable ’ .
Many of the strengths it had celebrated prior to Covid-19 , from heaving city centre bars to a thriving office market , internationally-focused universities , world-renowned football clubs and an expanding airport , now bear heavy question marks above their heads .
That , of course , is aside from the existing deprivation in some parts of Manchester , which still has among the highest rates of poverty nationally and some of the worst underlying health problems , partly a legacy of previous downturns stretching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the road , the economic problems dogging former mill towns from Oldham to Wigan persisted , but factories employing thousands of workers are now also running out of cash while already-struggling high streets sit mothballed .
Even towns such as Sale or Ramsbottom , firmly in the ‘ leafy ’ category of burgeoning middle class suburbs in recent years , face a collective threat to the base of independent firms that have increasingly been powering their economies .
Yesterday the chamber of commerce 's latest monitoring report reported half of businesses here were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospect over the next three months .
Conscious of the threat , Greater Manchester is already drawing up a plan .
This morning the first draft of a strategy was tabled to council chiefs and to the mayor , as they look to the risks and - not inconceivably - opportunities presented by the coming months .
At the heart of their thinking are two concerns : how to get through the immediate economic crisis ; and how to stop history repeating itself .
In the immediate stage , they are looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark ’ system to flag businesses that have safe social distancing practices .
Confidence among consumers , they believe , will be key to getting things back up and running initially .
But Andy Burnham , the region ’ s mayor and now lead on economy for the combined authority , has also already started talking publicly about what happens after that - what he calls ‘ building back better ’ .
He points to a number of opportunities .
Housing and environmental investment are high among them , as they are for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Retrofitting homes , he points out , will have to be done anyway as part of national carbon-reduction planning - so it would make sense to get on with it , linking that to new courses at Greater Manchester colleges .
He also notes modular homes as an innovation the region had already been exploring as part of its pre-existing housing crisis , along with housebuilding in town centres and accelerating the roll-out of high-speed broadband , as working from home becomes more embedded .
But he says the government will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery ; differently to previous recoveries , but also differently to the command-and-control nature of the immediate coronavirus response phase .
“ Places that are very reliant on certain sectors really could struggle , ” he says of the economic impact .
“ If decision-making is done in the same way as it has been during the response phase , you could end up with quite arbitrary decisions about certain sectors and trades that could really hurt certain places.
” Listening to local areas must be central to the government ’ s thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury ‘ does what it usually does ’ by ‘ chipping away and fighting over ’ what money reaches the regions , the economy will suffer in the meantime .
He is one of many to argue for some serious pump-priming of the economy at the start .
“ Even if it ’ s vast amounts of money , you will limit the compound damage in years to come.
” Labour is talking increasingly about the need for a ‘ Marshall Plan ’ , a reference to the vast aid programme America provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manchester-born economist and former banker Lord Jim O ’ Neill , an architect of the Northern Powerhouse concept and a Treasury minister under George Osborne , believes the merits of any such idea would very much depend on the detail .
But he agrees that different places will need different approaches - and that government needs to act fast , think smart and spend more initially in order to avoid a recession becoming a depression .
He is doubtful about its 100pc-underwritten loans for desperate small businesses , the backbone of the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of expecting them to pile up debt ‘ doesn ’ t make a lot of sense ’ .
“ Something a lot more audacious and imaginative is needed , ” he says .
“ Even with the 100pc guarantee , if you are in difficulty , why do you want to consider taking debt which will almost definitely go beyond a year , at which point you ’ d have to pay interest - when you ’ re also listening to an expert saying it will be 18 months before we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it not be better to come up with a grant-based approach ?
” He points to an idea being circulated within the EU currently , which argues against plunging small firms into debt - instead proposing a ‘ pandemic equity fund ’ that would see states provide immediate cash injections in return for a stake in the firms .
Companies would be able to buy their way out in the future .
“ That ’ s much more sensible , ” says the former Goldman Sachs banker .
“ It would cost more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t. ” Like Burnham , he also believes different areas will need different recovery plans and agrees this still-new Tory administration needs to seize this chance to correct existing weaknesses , those often starkly felt in towns around here .
“ In the spirit of not letting a crisis go to waste , we need central government to be much more serious about the questions that have plagued these country ’ s productivity , probably for 40 years , '' he says .
“ It might be a good opportunity , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative government to say ‘ we don ’ t do that sort of stuff ’ .
” He believes there could be reasons for optimism , thanks to the speed with which government acted when it was called upon to set up a furlough scheme for workers .
But this most early of advocates for the Northern Powerhouse - an idea predicated on linking up northern cities via better transport so their growth could spread out , known as ‘ agglomeration ’ - says his own thinking has also been challenged by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has been wondering , he admits , ‘ whether agglomeration becomes so vital ’ in the new normality .
Maybe ‘ local , non urban areas could grow in importance ’ as travel around the country drops .
Professor Andy Westwood , a policy expert at Manchester University who also advises the IMF , agrees that orthodoxy could now be challenged in the wake of coronavirus .
“ You get into the stuff everyone in Greater Manchester has been arguing about for ten years , which is the strengths we have from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
“ The things that have done really well in Greater Manchester - the city centre , the airport - if it is true that they bring benefits to other places , down the tram lines and so on , then those effects are going to be undermined too.
” In other words , it isn ’ t just the government that might need to change its economic thinking .
The effect of the crisis on transport in particular is among the issues causing great headaches for politicians in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Metrolink and bus network have to operate with social distancing for the foreseeable future , that inevitably means a huge drop-off in the number of people using the city centre economy in particular .
Forthcoming social distancing could see tram passenger numbers fall by 75pc ; bus passengers by a similar proportion .
Meanwhile at the time of writing , a forthcoming bailout from government was not expected to cover those costs .
The impact on transport has also been preoccupying Lord O'Neill , who believes it dominance of the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be called into question .
“ In the fanciful world where some of our habits may never be the same again , it would mean certainly parts of what dominated the infrastructure debate - like trains - we won ’ t actually need them , potentially , ” he says .
“ Sticking with the classic pre-Covid thing where you talk about HS2 , HS3 , HS4 , I ’ m not sure about that .
What could we do to make sure we don ’ t repeat the mistakes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social housing and skills are treated like much more central parts of infrastructure.
” A major push on social housing , he believes , would help to ensure this crisis does not punish younger generations more than older people , a pattern he points to in previous recoveries .
“ Going through most of our lifetime , we ’ ve had these ever-escalating housing affordability problems , ” he says .
“ One way to solve that is to completely rip up the bits of the elastoplast that have been around since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” At the same time Downing Street must be ‘ much more forceful ’ with the Department for Education where the rebuilding agenda is concerned , he adds , noting the ministry has always treated economic rebalancing with a ‘ what ’ s it got to do with us ’ attitude .
Giving people here the skills they need to earn their way out of a crisis will now be fundamental .
Like O ’ Neill , Oldham MP Jim McMahon - whose constituency features high on the list of places still suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is an opportunity to do things differently , with a bit of imagination and a willingness to intervene .
He points to the cleaner air that has emerged from the pandemic and argues there is a smart way to capitalise on that .
Instead of simply providing an individual scrappage scheme for taxi drivers with diesel vehicles , he suggests , why not enlist a car manufacturer - a struggling one - to bulk-manufacture a fleet of green vehicles for the conurbation ’ s drivers , creating jobs at the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job losses in his constituency , he notes that towns such as his own have never historically been slow when it comes to work ethic and ideas .
“ Manchester and Oldham have always been front of the queue when it comes to innovating new industries , ” he points out .
“ And the work ethic is there .
It ’ s just it doesn ’ t necessarily provide them with enough money to pay the bills.
” Both McMahon and Westwood see an opportunity to bring industries and supply chains back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those once pioneered around here .
“ Manchester ’ s historic links around clothing and textiles obviously is something that could benefit from that , ” says Westwood .
“ There ’ s going to have to be some kind of industrial strategy .
It might not be on the same terms as Theresa May envisaged it , or when the combined authority did their own , but we ’ ve got to have something .
“ That ’ s got to be based on some of the sectors that do expand - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and life sciences , both of them key sectors here , would be pretty important in the UK ’ s renewal of itself .
“ And the other end is the foundational economy - key workers .
Whatever the new normal is , we ’ re going to have to pay key workers more , take social care more seriously .
“ So you can go in a number of directions with this .
There are reasons to be positive , which are that from Greater Manchester ’ s perspective , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s just that there are a lot of big asterisks as well.
” While Greater Manchester has the advantage of strong relationships across different parts of the public and private sector , as well as some devolution and the visibility of a mayor , much will still now hinge on the government ’ s outlook .
And this administration was barely a few weeks old when the pandemic surfaced , so how far it is willing to go - both financially and ideologically - remains unclear .
Clarity , imagination and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill .
And like Burnham , he believes ministers must look to correct the errors of the past at the same time .
“ A really , really smart thing to do , whether it ’ s national government or local government , is to see what you can create better than what was there before , to state the obvious , ” he says .
“ But of course the natural human response , particularly given the scale of economic decline that seems to be going on - we haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or mine , certainly since the 1930s - is to get out of that ASAP .
“ You ’ ve got this immediate contradiction .
That requires some very , very smart policy answers .
And have they got them ?
” If not , he warns , recession ‘ could become a depression ’ , one that could see areas like Greater Manchester , which was already swimming against the tide before this tsunami hit , pay a very heavy price .
“ What is decided in the next two to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer to that .
That ’ s how finely balanced it is .
”

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The British economy is teetering on a precipice.
While inevitably the public’s immediate attention - and that of ministers - has been on the health impacts of Covid-19, economic decisions taken in the coming days and weeks could define a generation or more, by determining just how damaging and prolonged the aftershock proves to be.
For Greater Manchester, the worst-case scenario could mean the brutal reversal of a delicate revival.
Much of the conurbation’s prominence nationally in recent years has been based on its economy - or at least elements of it - emerging from the doldrums that hit when industry last collapsed in the 1970s and 1980s.
That process has been varied and fragile, with some communities struggling much more than others. Now, just as the national political agenda was finally tipping towards them, the coronavirus hits.
Everywhere you look, the economy here is vulnerable. Starting with the engine at the centre, Manchester was found to be among the most exposed of all cities and big towns nationally by the think-tank Centre for Cities last week, estimating around 30pc of its jobs to be either ‘vulnerable’ or ‘very vulnerable’.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Many of the strengths it had celebrated prior to Covid-19, from heaving city centre bars to a thriving office market, internationally-focused universities, world-renowned football clubs and an expanding airport, now bear heavy question marks above their heads.
That, of course, is aside from the existing deprivation in some parts of Manchester, which still has among the highest rates of poverty nationally and some of the worst underlying health problems, partly a legacy of previous downturns stretching back three or more decades.
Down the road, the economic problems dogging former mill towns from Oldham to Wigan persisted, but factories employing thousands of workers are now also running out of cash while already-struggling high streets sit mothballed.
Even towns such as Sale or Ramsbottom, firmly in the ‘leafy’ category of burgeoning middle class suburbs in recent years, face a collective threat to the base of independent firms that have increasingly been powering their economies. Yesterday the chamber of commerce's latest monitoring report reported half of businesses here were 'not confident at all' about their prospect over the next three months.
Conscious of the threat, Greater Manchester is already drawing up a plan.
This morning the first draft of a strategy was tabled to council chiefs and to the mayor, as they look to the risks and - not inconceivably - opportunities presented by the coming months.
At the heart of their thinking are two concerns: how to get through the immediate economic crisis; and how to stop history repeating itself.
(Image: PA)
In the immediate stage, they are looking to set up a kind of ‘kite mark’ system to flag businesses that have safe social distancing practices. Confidence among consumers, they believe, will be key to getting things back up and running initially.
But Andy Burnham, the region’s mayor and now lead on economy for the combined authority, has also already started talking publicly about what happens after that - what he calls ‘building back better’.
He points to a number of opportunities. Housing and environmental investment are high among them, as they are for others spoken to for this article.
Retrofitting homes, he points out, will have to be done anyway as part of national carbon-reduction planning - so it would make sense to get on with it, linking that to new courses at Greater Manchester colleges. He also notes modular homes as an innovation the region had already been exploring as part of its pre-existing housing crisis, along with housebuilding in town centres and accelerating the roll-out of high-speed broadband, as working from home becomes more embedded.
But he says the government will need to think in a different way about this recovery; differently to previous recoveries, but also differently to the command-and-control nature of the immediate coronavirus response phase.
“Places that are very reliant on certain sectors really could struggle,” he says of the economic impact. “If decision-making is done in the same way as it has been during the response phase, you could end up with quite arbitrary decisions about certain sectors and trades that could really hurt certain places.”
(Image: M.E.N.)
Listening to local areas must be central to the government’s thinking, he insists, while if the Treasury ‘does what it usually does’ by ‘chipping away and fighting over’ what money reaches the regions, the economy will suffer in the meantime.
He is one of many to argue for some serious pump-priming of the economy at the start.
“Even if it’s vast amounts of money, you will limit the compound damage in years to come.”
Labour is talking increasingly about the need for a ‘Marshall Plan’, a reference to the vast aid programme America provided to Western Europe post-World War Two.
Manchester-born economist and former banker Lord Jim O’Neill, an architect of the Northern Powerhouse concept and a Treasury minister under George Osborne, believes the merits of any such idea would very much depend on the detail.
But he agrees that different places will need different approaches - and that government needs to act fast, think smart and spend more initially in order to avoid a recession becoming a depression.
He is doubtful about its 100pc-underwritten loans for desperate small businesses, the backbone of the economy both here and elsewhere, arguing the idea of expecting them to pile up debt ‘doesn’t make a lot of sense’.
“Something a lot more audacious and imaginative is needed,” he says.
“Even with the 100pc guarantee, if you are in difficulty, why do you want to consider taking debt which will almost definitely go beyond a year, at which point you’d have to pay interest - when you’re also listening to an expert saying it will be 18 months before we’ve got a vaccine?
“Would it not be better to come up with a grant-based approach?”
He points to an idea being circulated within the EU currently, which argues against plunging small firms into debt - instead proposing a ‘pandemic equity fund’ that would see states provide immediate cash injections in return for a stake in the firms. Companies would be able to buy their way out in the future.
“That’s much more sensible,” says the former Goldman Sachs banker. “It would cost more initially, but ultimately it wouldn’t.”
Like Burnham, he also believes different areas will need different recovery plans and agrees this still-new Tory administration needs to seize this chance to correct existing weaknesses, those often starkly felt in towns around here.
“In the spirit of not letting a crisis go to waste, we need central government to be much more serious about the questions that have plagued these country’s productivity, probably for 40 years," he says.
“It might be a good opportunity, because the normal state of affairs is for a Conservative government to say ‘we don’t do that sort of stuff’.”
(Image: STEVE ALLEN)
He believes there could be reasons for optimism, thanks to the speed with which government acted when it was called upon to set up a furlough scheme for workers.
But this most early of advocates for the Northern Powerhouse - an idea predicated on linking up northern cities via better transport so their growth could spread out, known as ‘agglomeration’ - says his own thinking has also been challenged by the reality of the post-Covid economic landscape.
He has been wondering, he admits, ‘whether agglomeration becomes so vital’ in the new normality. Maybe ‘local, non urban areas could grow in importance’ as travel around the country drops.
Professor Andy Westwood, a policy expert at Manchester University who also advises the IMF, agrees that orthodoxy could now be challenged in the wake of coronavirus.
“You get into the stuff everyone in Greater Manchester has been arguing about for ten years, which is the strengths we have from agglomeration, which are now also threats,” he says. “The things that have done really well in Greater Manchester - the city centre, the airport - if it is true that they bring benefits to other places, down the tram lines and so on, then those effects are going to be undermined too.”
In other words, it isn’t just the government that might need to change its economic thinking.
(Image: Joel Goodman)
The effect of the crisis on transport in particular is among the issues causing great headaches for politicians in Greater Manchester. If, for example, the Metrolink and bus network have to operate with social distancing for the foreseeable future, that inevitably means a huge drop-off in the number of people using the city centre economy in particular.
Forthcoming social distancing could see tram passenger numbers fall by 75pc; bus passengers by a similar proportion. Meanwhile at the time of writing, a forthcoming bailout from government was not expected to cover those costs.
The impact on transport has also been preoccupying Lord O'Neill, who believes it dominance of the national 'levelling up' agenda may also now have to be called into question.
“In the fanciful world where some of our habits may never be the same again, it would mean certainly parts of what dominated the infrastructure debate - like trains - we won’t actually need them, potentially,” he says.
“Sticking with the classic pre-Covid thing where you talk about HS2, HS3, HS4, I’m not sure about that. What could we do to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past? Ensure things like education and social housing and skills are treated like much more central parts of infrastructure.”
A major push on social housing, he believes, would help to ensure this crisis does not punish younger generations more than older people, a pattern he points to in previous recoveries.
“Going through most of our lifetime, we’ve had these ever-escalating housing affordability problems,” he says.
“One way to solve that is to completely rip up the bits of the elastoplast that have been around since Margaret Thatcher first started to privatise housing.”
At the same time Downing Street must be ‘much more forceful’ with the Department for Education where the rebuilding agenda is concerned, he adds, noting the ministry has always treated economic rebalancing with a ‘what’s it got to do with us’ attitude. Giving people here the skills they need to earn their way out of a crisis will now be fundamental.
“That’s a genuine thing Greater Manchester should be pushing for.”
Like O’Neill, Oldham MP Jim McMahon - whose constituency features high on the list of places still suffering from the effects of post-industrialisation - believes there is an opportunity to do things differently, with a bit of imagination and a willingness to intervene.
He points to the cleaner air that has emerged from the pandemic and argues there is a smart way to capitalise on that.
Instead of simply providing an individual scrappage scheme for taxi drivers with diesel vehicles, he suggests, why not enlist a car manufacturer - a struggling one - to bulk-manufacture a fleet of green vehicles for the conurbation’s drivers, creating jobs at the same time?
While fearing for thousands of potential job losses in his constituency, he notes that towns such as his own have never historically been slow when it comes to work ethic and ideas.
“Manchester and Oldham have always been front of the queue when it comes to innovating new industries,” he points out. “And the work ethic is there. It’s just it doesn’t necessarily provide them with enough money to pay the bills.”
Both McMahon and Westwood see an opportunity to bring industries and supply chains back into the UK, including some of those once pioneered around here.
“Manchester’s historic links around clothing and textiles obviously is something that could benefit from that,” says Westwood.
“There’s going to have to be some kind of industrial strategy. It might not be on the same terms as Theresa May envisaged it, or when the combined authority did their own, but we’ve got to have something.
“That’s got to be based on some of the sectors that do expand - and you’d think advanced manufacturing and life sciences, both of them key sectors here, would be pretty important in the UK’s renewal of itself.
“And the other end is the foundational economy - key workers. Whatever the new normal is, we’re going to have to pay key workers more, take social care more seriously.
“So you can go in a number of directions with this. There are reasons to be positive, which are that from Greater Manchester’s perspective, there’s some pretty strong sectors here. It’s just that there are a lot of big asterisks as well.”
(Image: Joel Goodman)
While Greater Manchester has the advantage of strong relationships across different parts of the public and private sector, as well as some devolution and the visibility of a mayor, much will still now hinge on the government’s outlook. And this administration was barely a few weeks old when the pandemic surfaced, so how far it is willing to go - both financially and ideologically - remains unclear.
Clarity, imagination and speed are of the essence, argues O’Neill. And like Burnham, he believes ministers must look to correct the errors of the past at the same time.
“A really, really smart thing to do, whether it’s national government or local government, is to see what you can create better than what was there before, to state the obvious,” he says.
“But of course the natural human response, particularly given the scale of economic decline that seems to be going on - we haven’t seen this in your lifetime or mine, certainly since the 1930s - is to get out of that ASAP.
“You’ve got this immediate contradiction. That requires some very, very smart policy answers. And have they got them?”
If not, he warns, recession ‘could become a depression’, one that could see areas like Greater Manchester, which was already swimming against the tide before this tsunami hit, pay a very heavy price.
“What is decided in the next two to three weeks is probably going to determine the answer to that. That’s how finely balanced it is.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--Ferdinand claims Man Utd are partly to blame for Pogba's failings

Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand believes that the club are partly responsible for Paul Pogba 's failure to live up to expectations at Old Trafford by never building a team around him .
United smashed their record fee for a player when they brought Pogba back to the club in 2016 , after the midfielder had been a revelation at Juventus .
During his stint in Italy Pogba played an instrumental role in the Old Lady winning four Serie A titles , two Coppa Italias and two Italian Supercups as he established himself as one of the best players in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he made his return to Manchester but the Frenchman has never been able to rediscover the form he showed in Turin on a consistent basis .
His second tenure at United has been marked by a falling-out with Jose Mourinho and disputes between the club and his agent , Mino Raiola , while he has spent the majority of the current season on the sidelines with an ankle injury that has limited him to just eight appearances .
However , Ferdinand believes that the club have n't created the best environment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he been the Paul Pogba that we come to expect when he ’ s a £90million transfer ?
I ’ d argue that he hasn ’ t been as consistent as we ’ d like , ” Ferdinand said in a Q & A on his YouTube channel .
“ But at the same time , this has been a squad in absolute transition , had multiple managers .
“ It ’ s like a business .
If you invested £90m in a certain part of your business , you ’ d make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build around it and I don ’ t think that ’ s what ’ s happened with Paul Pogba .
“ If you ’ re spending that much money and he ’ s a superstar like he is , you know what he ’ s bringing to the table , he ’ s won multiple things , been instrumental in doing that , how are you not gon na build that around him ?
“ It doesn ’ t matter who you bring in , if the team isn ’ t consistent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves .
Yes , you can bring in great players but for them to make that huge difference and be that catalyst – to take them from a low ebb to being Champions League winners and league contenders – I think it ’ s impossible to expect .
”

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Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand believes that the club are partly responsible for Paul Pogba's failure to live up to expectations at Old Trafford by never building a team around him.
United smashed their record fee for a player when they brought Pogba back to the club in 2016, after the midfielder had been a revelation at Juventus.
During his stint in Italy Pogba played an instrumental role in the Old Lady winning four Serie A titles, two Coppa Italias and two Italian Supercups as he established himself as one of the best players in the world.
There was much anticipation when he made his return to Manchester but the Frenchman has never been able to rediscover the form he showed in Turin on a consistent basis.
His second tenure at United has been marked by a falling-out with Jose Mourinho and disputes between the club and his agent, Mino Raiola, while he has spent the majority of the current season on the sidelines with an ankle injury that has limited him to just eight appearances.
However, Ferdinand believes that the club haven't created the best environment for Pogba to succeed in.
"Has he been the Paul Pogba that we come to expect when he’s a £90million transfer? I’d argue that he hasn’t been as consistent as we’d like,” Ferdinand said in a Q&A on his YouTube channel.
“But at the same time, this has been a squad in absolute transition, had multiple managers.
“It’s like a business. If you invested £90m in a certain part of your business, you’d make that the jewel in your crown and build around it and I don’t think that’s what’s happened with Paul Pogba.
“If you’re spending that much money and he’s a superstar like he is, you know what he’s bringing to the table, he’s won multiple things, been instrumental in doing that, how are you not gonna build that around him?
“It doesn’t matter who you bring in, if the team isn’t consistent and the team is still trying to find themselves. Yes, you can bring in great players but for them to make that huge difference and be that catalyst – to take them from a low ebb to being Champions League winners and league contenders – I think it’s impossible to expect.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--This is what it's like having a mental health condition during coronavirus

Since the country went into lockdown , restrictions on leaving the house , seeing friends , or visiting family have taken a toll on all of us .
Reports of feeling lonely or isolated have increased , while many people have begun experiencing anxiety for the first time in their life .
Mental health charities in Greater Manchester have reported unprecedented numbers of calls from people in need of help , since the country went into lockdown over six weeks ago .
As people come to terms with a drastic change in every day life , what has the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health conditions ?
We spoke to four people from across the region , who have been diagnosed with depression , post traumatic stress disorder , personality disorders and anxiety .
Whilst every person 's experience of lockdown is unique ; sleepless nights , intrusive thoughts , and increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness were the most commonly reported issues .
Others have faced cancelled or delayed appointments , or a change in the way they receive therapy and counselling .
20-year-old Dareo Knott , from Salford , was diagnosed with Borderline Personality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood of neglect and abuse .
Dareo is part of several Facebook Groups and before COVID-19 , would regularly meet people with similar heath issues for coffee .
`` As soon as lockdown happened a lot of challenges arose for me , '' Dario said .
`` My everyday life now means I usually wo n't get out of bed until the afternoon and I can go from one extreme of being really productive , to the other where I ca n't even get out of bed .
`` I moved into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't really have the capacity to involve myself with new people so I 'm feeling very isolated .
`` My friends are really struggling to handle my behaviour and I ca n't see any of my family . ''
Dario is studying vocals at the British Institute of Modern Music , and says he is struggling to motivate himself for online lectures in the same way he would for face-to-face lectures .
`` More than ever , people with mental health issues are being put to one side because it is such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fend for ourselves , '' Dario said .
`` My best advice to other people who are struggling is something I always say , and that is what you are feeling is temporary .
`` It is okay to feel the way you are now because things change and things can happen . ''
Georgina is 35-years-old and lives in Ashton-under-Lyne .
She has suffered from mental health issues since the age of twelve .
She has major depressive disorder and would usually see a clinical psychologist once a week , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years , Georgina 's heath issues have led her to lose her job as a teaching assistant and meant that social services became involved in the care of her teenage son .
`` For the first couple of weeks of lockdown I actually felt quite positive , '' Georgina said .
`` It sounds really bad but finally now everyone understands how hard life can be when you are stuck at home . ''
Georgina said as lockdown has continued , she has found it increasingly hard to care for her son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on her own .
`` Because of my previous experience with social services , I feel like there is a lot of pressure on me to make sure I am home-schooling him properly , '' she said .
`` It has made home not a very nice place to be at times . ''
Georgina waited two years to receive face-to-face therapy for her major depressive disorder - which has now been moved to telephone appointments .
She was told her therapy would be moving to once every two weeks , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to .
`` It is really difficult doing therapy over the phone , '' Georgina said .
`` When you are in a room with someone you can read their body language , which is really important .
`` I am talking about abuse I went through as a child which I ca n't do at home with my son present , so I am having to get in my car and park somewhere quiet to do it .
`` We have been trying video calls too but I have a phobia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for me . ''
Georgina was due to have an appointment with her psychiatrist this week about lowering the amount of anti-depressants she is taking , but she says she has n't been told if this is still going head .
`` I think the mental health services are trying their best but at the same time it is really difficult to talk about things over the phone , and I am missing that human connection , '' Georgina added .
Natalie is from Salford and was diagnosed with depression at the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personality disorder .
Her mental health issues stem from being sexually abused as a young child .
`` I did n't expect lockdown to affect my mental health the way it has done , '' Natalie said .
`` I usually cope by sleeping or going out a few times a day for a walk to clear my head , but now I am really restricted .
`` Before lockdown I was pretty bad at sleeping anyway because of the my nightmares , but since lockdown I have n't been able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only sleep for a couple of hours .
`` I think it 's because I have no escape .
I have so much going on in my head and it 's all getting mixed up into one . ''
Normally , Natalie would look after her best friend 's son , or her niece , which would offer her a welcome distraction from her thoughts .
`` I ca n't spend time with any of them now and it 's really hard , '' Natalie said .
`` I used to go outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few hours but I ca n't even do that now because I am worried about being judged by my neighbours . ''
Paige Wilmot , 27 , from Stockport , has depression , anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) .
The mum was diagnosed with depression at 16 and placed on anti-depressants , before developing PTSD following a car crash in 2015 .
`` Coronavirus is affecting me horrifically , '' Paige said .
`` Usually if I was feeling bad I would just get in my car and somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ca n't do that now .
`` I am feeling quite isolated from friends and family and I feel emotional and trapped .
Paige says although she lives with her partner and four children , she feels completely isolated .
`` Sometimes if I was feeling low I would just walk to my doctors and ask to see someone , but obviously I ca n't do that now , '' Paige said .
`` Being stuck inside causes a lot more anger and upset in the home because we are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is very intense .
`` I am now working from home and the children are not at school so I 'm not getting any switch off from work or the the kids . ''
Paige says listening to podcasts and watching online courses , are helping her to relax and sleep at night , which is something she usually struggles with .
`` I think it is brilliant how much support is out there from the mental health charities and I would urge anyone who needs to , to reach out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone you know is suffering from mental health issues , please use the helplines listed in the article above .
If you believe you , or someone else is in immediate danger of harm , call 999 .

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Since the country went into lockdown, restrictions on leaving the house, seeing friends, or visiting family have taken a toll on all of us.
Reports of feeling lonely or isolated have increased, while many people have begun experiencing anxiety for the first time in their life.
Mental health charities in Greater Manchester have reported unprecedented numbers of calls from people in need of help, since the country went into lockdown over six weeks ago.
As people come to terms with a drastic change in every day life, what has the coronavirus pandemic been like for people with existing mental health conditions?
We spoke to four people from across the region, who have been diagnosed with depression, post traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders and anxiety.
Whilst every person's experience of lockdown is unique; sleepless nights, intrusive thoughts, and increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness were the most commonly reported issues.
Others have faced cancelled or delayed appointments, or a change in the way they receive therapy and counselling.
20-year-old Dareo Knott, from Salford, was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder two years ago, following a childhood of neglect and abuse.
(Image: Dareo Knott)
His main trigger is loneliness.
Dareo is part of several Facebook Groups and before COVID-19, would regularly meet people with similar heath issues for coffee.
"As soon as lockdown happened a lot of challenges arose for me," Dario said.
"My everyday life now means I usually won't get out of bed until the afternoon and I can go from one extreme of being really productive, to the other where I can't even get out of bed.
"I moved into a new house-share in January but I don't really have the capacity to involve myself with new people so I'm feeling very isolated.
"My friends are really struggling to handle my behaviour and I can't see any of my family."
Dario is studying vocals at the British Institute of Modern Music, and says he is struggling to motivate himself for online lectures in the same way he would for face-to-face lectures.
"More than ever, people with mental health issues are being put to one side because it is such a silent thing and we are left to fend for ourselves," Dario said.
"My best advice to other people who are struggling is something I always say, and that is what you are feeling is temporary.
"It is okay to feel the way you are now because things change and things can happen."
Georgina is 35-years-old and lives in Ashton-under-Lyne. She has suffered from mental health issues since the age of twelve.
She has major depressive disorder and would usually see a clinical psychologist once a week, and a community psychiatric nurse.
Over the last two years, Georgina's heath issues have led her to lose her job as a teaching assistant and meant that social services became involved in the care of her teenage son.
"For the first couple of weeks of lockdown I actually felt quite positive," Georgina said.
"It sounds really bad but finally now everyone understands how hard life can be when you are stuck at home."
Georgina said as lockdown has continued, she has found it increasingly hard to care for her son, who would usually be at school, on her own.
"Because of my previous experience with social services, I feel like there is a lot of pressure on me to make sure I am home-schooling him properly," she said.
"It has made home not a very nice place to be at times."
Georgina waited two years to receive face-to-face therapy for her major depressive disorder - which has now been moved to telephone appointments.
She was told her therapy would be moving to once every two weeks, instead of the normal weekly sessions she was used to.
Helplines and websites Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch. For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year. Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill. PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/ Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/
"It is really difficult doing therapy over the phone," Georgina said.
"When you are in a room with someone you can read their body language, which is really important.
"I am talking about abuse I went through as a child which I can't do at home with my son present, so I am having to get in my car and park somewhere quiet to do it.
"We have been trying video calls too but I have a phobia of cameras so that has been hard for me."
Georgina was due to have an appointment with her psychiatrist this week about lowering the amount of anti-depressants she is taking, but she says she hasn't been told if this is still going head.
"I think the mental health services are trying their best but at the same time it is really difficult to talk about things over the phone, and I am missing that human connection," Georgina added.
Natalie is from Salford and was diagnosed with depression at the age of twelve. She also has a personality disorder.
Her mental health issues stem from being sexually abused as a young child.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
"I didn't expect lockdown to affect my mental health the way it has done," Natalie said.
"I usually cope by sleeping or going out a few times a day for a walk to clear my head, but now I am really restricted.
"Before lockdown I was pretty bad at sleeping anyway because of the my nightmares, but since lockdown I haven't been able to get to sleep until 9am and then I only sleep for a couple of hours.
"I think it's because I have no escape. I have so much going on in my head and it's all getting mixed up into one."
Normally, Natalie would look after her best friend's son, or her niece, which would offer her a welcome distraction from her thoughts.
"I can't spend time with any of them now and it's really hard," Natalie said.
"I used to go outside and sit on a bench for a few hours but I can't even do that now because I am worried about being judged by my neighbours."
Paige Wilmot, 27, from Stockport, has depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
(Image: Paige Wilmot)
The mum was diagnosed with depression at 16 and placed on anti-depressants, before developing PTSD following a car crash in 2015.
"Coronavirus is affecting me horrifically," Paige said.
"Usually if I was feeling bad I would just get in my car and somewhere for the day or see friends, and I can't do that now.
"I am feeling quite isolated from friends and family and I feel emotional and trapped.
Paige says although she lives with her partner and four children, she feels completely isolated.
"Sometimes if I was feeling low I would just walk to my doctors and ask to see someone, but obviously I can't do that now," Paige said.
"Being stuck inside causes a lot more anger and upset in the home because we are all constantly on top of each other - it is very intense.
"I am now working from home and the children are not at school so I'm not getting any switch off from work or the the kids."
Paige says listening to podcasts and watching online courses, are helping her to relax and sleep at night, which is something she usually struggles with.
"I think it is brilliant how much support is out there from the mental health charities and I would urge anyone who needs to, to reach out," Paige said.
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental health issues, please use the helplines listed in the article above.
If you believe you, or someone else is in immediate danger of harm, call 999.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--Wetherspoon's is starting to plan for a reopening very soon

JD Wetherspoon 's has announced that it is starting to plan for the reopening of its pubs and hotels .
It comes as many food-chains such as McDonald 's begin trialling the reopening of some of its restaurants .
All pubs and restaurants across the UK have been closed since March 23 .
Wetherspoon 's latest announcement confirms that it 's in talks to open the doors of some of its branches with a date of `` in or around June '' .
The chain , which operates more than 800 pubs across the country , said in a stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to make some changes to its operating model , assuming increased social distancing , and anticipates a gradual recovery in customer numbers .
`` Wetherspoon pubs are substantially larger than average , and most have outside facilities .
The company believes these factors are likely to assist if social distancing measures apply . ''
However , the re-opening will depend on when the government announces a lifting of its current lockdown measures with the next review in early May .
But Sacha Lord , Night Time Economy Adviser to Andy Burnham in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappointing '' to read Weatherspoon 's public announcement .
He comments : `` While I understand the urgency and desire of those in the hospitality sector to return to normality , we have to ensure the safety of customers , staff and the public remains the first priority .
`` All operators have a duty of care , and the decision to reopen is not something that can or should be rushed .
`` The advice of the Government must be adhered to , and at present , it 's clear that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still in the peak of this pandemic .
`` I 'm disappointed to see that Wetherspoons have publicly announced the potential opening of their venues so soon .
I wait to hear the exact details of the plans but I hope there will be adequate measures in place to ensure the guidelines are adhered to , whether that is through social distancing or one in one out policies .
`` As one of the hardest hit , the hospitality sector must work together to battle through this pandemic .
A 'first across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit , and I fear this decision will create unnecessary pressure on others to follow suit .
`` We need to ensure that as a nation we are best placed to reopen '' This a decision that can only be made by the Government and not the individual operators themselves , so as to limit the possibility of a second wave and our industry needing a second lockdown later down the line . ''
Wetherspoon 's boss Tim Martin came under fire last month before agreeing to put 40,000 of its workers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme .
He previously warned workers that they would not be paid until Government funds had reached Wetherspoon ’ s accounts but made a u-turn following widespread criticism .

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JD Wetherspoon's has announced that it is starting to plan for the reopening of its pubs and hotels.
It comes as many food-chains such as McDonald's begin trialling the reopening of some of its restaurants.
All pubs and restaurants across the UK have been closed since March 23.
Wetherspoon's latest announcement confirms that it's in talks to open the doors of some of its branches with a date of "in or around June".
The chain, which operates more than 800 pubs across the country, said in a stock market announcement: "The company is likely to make some changes to its operating model, assuming increased social distancing, and anticipates a gradual recovery in customer numbers.
"Wetherspoon pubs are substantially larger than average, and most have outside facilities. The company believes these factors are likely to assist if social distancing measures apply."
However, the re-opening will depend on when the government announces a lifting of its current lockdown measures with the next review in early May.
But Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser to Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, says it's "disappointing" to read Weatherspoon's public announcement.
He comments: "While I understand the urgency and desire of those in the hospitality sector to return to normality, we have to ensure the safety of customers, staff and the public remains the first priority.
"All operators have a duty of care, and the decision to reopen is not something that can or should be rushed.
"The advice of the Government must be adhered to, and at present, it's clear that while things are looking hopeful, we are still in the peak of this pandemic.
"I'm disappointed to see that Wetherspoons have publicly announced the potential opening of their venues so soon. I wait to hear the exact details of the plans but I hope there will be adequate measures in place to ensure the guidelines are adhered to, whether that is through social distancing or one in one out policies.
"As one of the hardest hit, the hospitality sector must work together to battle through this pandemic. A 'first across the line approach' is not in this spirit, and I fear this decision will create unnecessary pressure on others to follow suit.
"We need to ensure that as a nation we are best placed to reopen
"This a decision that can only be made by the Government and not the individual operators themselves, so as to limit the possibility of a second wave and our industry needing a second lockdown later down the line."
Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin came under fire last month before agreeing to put 40,000 of its workers were placed on the Government's jobs retentions scheme.
He previously warned workers that they would not be paid until Government funds had reached Wetherspoon’s accounts but made a u-turn following widespread criticism.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--Most cars recorded on UK roads in a day since lockdown 'worrying'

A public health chief has reported a 'slightly worrying ' increase in the number of private cars and vehicles recorded out on roads and motorways during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown .
Professor Yvonne Doyle , medical director at Public Health England , spoke at Wednesday 's daily coronavirus press conference at Downing Street .
The government has urged the public to avoid all non-essential travel .
But Prof Doyle , speaking about changes in transport and traffic volume together with a graphic , said the 'use of motor vehicles ' on Monday was the highest since the lockdown began .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'slightly worrying ' .
Prof Doyle urged the public to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives .
She said : `` We have seen up to now very dramatic fall in most modes [ of transport ] , but there has been an uptick in motor vehicles .
`` And the message here really is that we are still passing through this peak .
`` This use of motor vehicles is the highest working day use since March 23 .
`` We really have to be vigilant .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home and save lives and this is slightly worrying so please , do stay at home , protect the NHS and save lives .
`` Go out for necessities and the transport data will reflect that . ''
The graph showed a huge fall in train use , together with less people on buses and on the Tube in London .
Only use of motor vehicles has shown a recent increase .
Prof Doyle highlighted road traffic volumes on Monday - April 27 - were 56 per cent lower than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rail and Tube use were down by more than 95 per cent .
Prof Doyle went on to say the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 had dropped by 16 per cent .
Numbers admitted had fallen from more than 18,000 to more than 15,000 , she said .
Capacity , however , remains in critical care , with 40 per cent of such beds currently in use .
Earlier Dominic Raab said the daily death toll had risen by 765 .
The Foreign Secretary said it was vital the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he pointed to the rising transmission rate in Germany .
He said : `` Having relaxed restrictions in Germany over the last week , they have seen a rise in the transmission rate of coronavirus ... '' This is a very real risk and it is vital we proceed carefully , guided by the scientific advice , so that our next step through this crisis is a sure footed one .
`` We must n't gamble away the sacrifices and the progress that we have made - we must continue to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take the right decisions at the right moment in time . ''

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A public health chief has reported a 'slightly worrying' increase in the number of private cars and vehicles recorded out on roads and motorways during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, spoke at Wednesday's daily coronavirus press conference at Downing Street.
The government has urged the public to avoid all non-essential travel.
But Prof Doyle, speaking about changes in transport and traffic volume together with a graphic, said the 'use of motor vehicles' on Monday was the highest since the lockdown began.
The data, she said, was 'slightly worrying'.
Prof Doyle urged the public to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
She said: "We have seen up to now very dramatic fall in most modes [of transport], but there has been an uptick in motor vehicles.
"And the message here really is that we are still passing through this peak.
"This use of motor vehicles is the highest working day use since March 23.
"We really have to be vigilant.
"Most people are making huge efforts to stay at home and save lives and this is slightly worrying so please, do stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
"Go out for necessities and the transport data will reflect that."
The graph showed a huge fall in train use, together with less people on buses and on the Tube in London.
(Image: PA)
Only use of motor vehicles has shown a recent increase.
Prof Doyle highlighted road traffic volumes on Monday - April 27 - were 56 per cent lower than they were in the first week of February.
Rail and Tube use were down by more than 95 per cent.
Prof Doyle went on to say the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 had dropped by 16 per cent.
Numbers admitted had fallen from more than 18,000 to more than 15,000, she said.
Capacity, however, remains in critical care, with 40 per cent of such beds currently in use.
Earlier Dominic Raab said the daily death toll had risen by 765.
The Foreign Secretary said it was vital the UK proceeds 'carefully' in lifting lockdown measures as he pointed to the rising transmission rate in Germany.
He said: "Having relaxed restrictions in Germany over the last week, they have seen a rise in the transmission rate of coronavirus...
"This is a very real risk and it is vital we proceed carefully, guided by the scientific advice, so that our next step through this crisis is a sure footed one.
"We mustn't gamble away the sacrifices and the progress that we have made - we must continue to follow the scientific evidence and we must continue to take the right decisions at the right moment in time."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--Reasoning behind testing in care homes explained after death figures released

The foreign secretary has admitted there has been a 'distribution issue ' in getting coronavirus test kits for care home staff and residents following mounting criticism about delays .
During the Downing Street press conference , Dominic Raab said the government has now 'expanded the eligibility ' for tests , to include all residents and staff .
`` We have obviously had a distribution issue , there is no sugar coating the challenge we have had with that , ” he said .
He said the government was doing “ everything we possibly can ” to improve supply and delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that a total 26,097 patients had died in hospitals , care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK .
Previously , the Department of Health only included hospital deaths in its figures .
From today ( April 29 ) deaths recorded at care homes involving Covid-19 have been included in the daily figures .
The body said it was reporting an additional 3,811 deaths since the start of the outbreak .
During the press briefing , BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym asked : `` What support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and organising tests and helping them keep residents and staff safe ? ''
Public Health England ’ s Yvonne Doyle said there were a 'number of ways ' in which testing would be carried out 'at scale ' in care homes .
She said : `` Since this epidemic in care homes , which still continues , there has been a huge local effort , both through local government or directors of public health or health protection teams , but increasingly with support from national endeavours to get the tests to the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need .
`` This will continue for some considerable time until we are convinced that we have got under this epidemic in the care homes , which of course is of most concern . ''
Mr Pym replied by asking whether testing could have started 'sooner than now ' .
Ms Doyle said : `` Testing has always occurred during outbreaks , and that has never been given up at local level .
`` Our health protection teams supported by the NHS locally have been going into care homes throughout the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed of this epidemic is really in the last couple of weeks , and there is a huge national and local endeavour to both not just test , which is very important , but to also understand the measures which would make a difference in care homes .
`` To look at that in a very rapid way looking at the evidence , so that we can put in place measures that protect people .
`` People are absolutely passionate about getting this right .
But it 's the most complex sector to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of places to go to and it 's critical to use local intelligence as to where those risks are highest . ''
Mr Raab added that it would have taken an 'enormous ' testing capacity to do what Mr Pym was suggesting the government 'should have or could have done ' .
He said there has been a challenge with asymptomatic people going into care homes , whether staff or members of the community , which has caused the spread of the virus .

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The foreign secretary has admitted there has been a 'distribution issue' in getting coronavirus test kits for care home staff and residents following mounting criticism about delays.
During the Downing Street press conference, Dominic Raab said the government has now 'expanded the eligibility' for tests, to include all residents and staff.
"We have obviously had a distribution issue, there is no sugar coating the challenge we have had with that,” he said.
He said the government was doing “everything we possibly can” to improve supply and delivery.
It came as Public Health England announced that a total 26,097 patients had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK.
Previously, the Department of Health only included hospital deaths in its figures.
From today (April 29) deaths recorded at care homes involving Covid-19 have been included in the daily figures.
The body said it was reporting an additional 3,811 deaths since the start of the outbreak.
During the press briefing, BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym asked: "What support will you give care homes in administering and organising tests and helping them keep residents and staff safe?"
Public Health England’s Yvonne Doyle said there were a 'number of ways' in which testing would be carried out 'at scale' in care homes.
(Image: PA)
She said: "Since this epidemic in care homes, which still continues, there has been a huge local effort, both through local government or directors of public health or health protection teams, but increasingly with support from national endeavours to get the tests to the home to make sure staff get the testing they need.
"This will continue for some considerable time until we are convinced that we have got under this epidemic in the care homes, which of course is of most concern."
Mr Pym replied by asking whether testing could have started 'sooner than now'.
Ms Doyle said: "Testing has always occurred during outbreaks, and that has never been given up at local level.
"Our health protection teams supported by the NHS locally have been going into care homes throughout the country.
"But the scale and the speed of this epidemic is really in the last couple of weeks, and there is a huge national and local endeavour to both not just test, which is very important, but to also understand the measures which would make a difference in care homes.
"To look at that in a very rapid way looking at the evidence, so that we can put in place measures that protect people.
"People are absolutely passionate about getting this right. But it's the most complex sector to get to.
"16,000 homes is a lot of places to go to and it's critical to use local intelligence as to where those risks are highest."
Mr Raab added that it would have taken an 'enormous' testing capacity to do what Mr Pym was suggesting the government 'should have or could have done'.
He said there has been a challenge with asymptomatic people going into care homes, whether staff or members of the community, which has caused the spread of the virus.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-29--Man City's greatest European nights at Maine Road and the Etihad

Having already won two Premier League titles as Manchester City manager , the next challenge for Pep Guardiola is to bring the Champions League trophy to the Etihad Stadium .
City have never won the biggest prize in European football , but they did get their hands on continental silverware in the form of the Cup Winners ’ Cup in 1970 .
They also competed in the UEFA Cup on numerous occasions , and have enjoyed some fantastic victories in the Champions League in more recent times .
Here are City ’ s best European nights at Maine Road or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the group stage of this season ’ s competition , but their 5-3 victory over Monaco was one of the greatest games in Champions League history .
It started well for the hosts , who took the lead through Raheem Sterling , only for Monaco to go 2-1 and then 3-2 up through a Radamel Falcao brace and Kylian Mbappe effort .
Pep Guardiola ’ s side came on strong in the closing stages , turning the match on its head thanks to goals from John Stones , Sergio Aguero ( his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sane .
It was a remarkable evening of football , but City came unstuck in the second leg and exited on away goals .
Joe Mercer ’ s men overcame Athletic Bilbao , Lierse and Academica to set up a semi-final showdown with Schalke in the 1969/70 Cup Winners ’ Cup .
The Germans edged a tight first leg 1-0 , meaning nothing less than victory would do for City back at Maine Road .
Even a win might not have been enough given that the FA Cup holders had failed to score @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , City needn ’ t have worried .
They blew Schalke away in the return fixture , taking a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to Mike Doyle ’ s opener and a brace from Neil Young .
Franny Lee and Colin Bell gave the scoreline an even more emphatic look in the second period , before Schalke scored a consolation in the 89th minute .
It was a case of fourth time lucky for City in the UEFA Cup in 1978/79 .
The club had qualified for the competition three times earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first round on each occasion .
They reached the quarter-finals in the season in question after a 5-2 aggregate triumph over Milan .
There was everything to play for following a 2-2 draw in the first leg , but City proved too strong for the Rossoneri at Maine Road , securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Tommy Booth , Asa Hartford and Brian Kidd .
Sergio Aguero ’ s strike against QPR in 2012 isn ’ t the only example of the Argentinian ’ s last-gasp heroics coming to City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of this group-stage clash , but City defended with resolve and character to keep the deficit at 2-1 heading into the final five minutes .
That ’ s when Aguero came to life .
The striker finished coolly to equalise after a mistake from Xabi Alonso , then stabbed the ball past Manuel Neuer to give City an improbable win .

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Having already won two Premier League titles as Manchester City manager, the next challenge for Pep Guardiola is to bring the Champions League trophy to the Etihad Stadium.
City have never won the biggest prize in European football, but they did get their hands on continental silverware in the form of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.
They also competed in the UEFA Cup on numerous occasions, and have enjoyed some fantastic victories in the Champions League in more recent times.
Here are City’s best European nights at Maine Road or the Etihad.
City 5-3 Monaco, Champions League round of 16 (2016/17)
City beat Barcelona 3-1 in the group stage of this season’s competition, but their 5-3 victory over Monaco was one of the greatest games in Champions League history. It started well for the hosts, who took the lead through Raheem Sterling, only for Monaco to go 2-1 and then 3-2 up through a Radamel Falcao brace and Kylian Mbappe effort.
Pep Guardiola’s side came on strong in the closing stages, turning the match on its head thanks to goals from John Stones, Sergio Aguero (his second of the night) and Leroy Sane.
It was a remarkable evening of football, but City came unstuck in the second leg and exited on away goals.
City 5-1 Schalke, Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final (1969/70)
Joe Mercer’s men overcame Athletic Bilbao, Lierse and Academica to set up a semi-final showdown with Schalke in the 1969/70 Cup Winners’ Cup.
The Germans edged a tight first leg 1-0, meaning nothing less than victory would do for City back at Maine Road. Even a win might not have been enough given that the FA Cup holders had failed to score in Gelsenkirchen.
As it turned out, City needn’t have worried. They blew Schalke away in the return fixture, taking a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to Mike Doyle’s opener and a brace from Neil Young. Franny Lee and Colin Bell gave the scoreline an even more emphatic look in the second period, before Schalke scored a consolation in the 89th minute.
City 3-0 Milan, UEFA Cup third round (1978/79)
It was a case of fourth time lucky for City in the UEFA Cup in 1978/79. The club had qualified for the competition three times earlier in the decade but failed to progress beyond the first round on each occasion.
They reached the quarter-finals in the season in question after a 5-2 aggregate triumph over Milan.
There was everything to play for following a 2-2 draw in the first leg, but City proved too strong for the Rossoneri at Maine Road, securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Tommy Booth, Asa Hartford and Brian Kidd.
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City 3-2 Bayern Munich, Champions League group stage (2014/15)
Sergio Aguero’s strike against QPR in 2012 isn’t the only example of the Argentinian’s last-gasp heroics coming to City’s rescue.
Bayern Munich dominated much of this group-stage clash, but City defended with resolve and character to keep the deficit at 2-1 heading into the final five minutes.
That’s when Aguero came to life. The striker finished coolly to equalise after a mistake from Xabi Alonso, then stabbed the ball past Manuel Neuer to give City an improbable win.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-30--Captain Tom Moore's Blankety Blank throwback episode airs on BBC Breakfast

If you thought you knew everything there is to know about Captain Tom Moore - you are mistaken .
It was revealed today that it isn ’ t the first time that the war hero - who has been promoted to honorary Colonel for his 100th birthday after raising £30 million for the NHS - has been on TV .
BBC Breakfast revealed he once appeared as a contestant on game show Blankety Blank - and viewers were delighted to see the throwback clip featuring a youthful looking Tom having banter with host Terry Wogan .
The episode , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask Tom where he was from .
“ Tips end , ” he replied , as the audience laughed .
Terry asked whether he had any friends or family he would rather were not watching him on the programme , and Tom mentioned his daughters , Hannah and Lucy , who have been supporting him in his fundraiser .
“ Yes , two girls , coming up 16 , coming up 14 , ” he replied .
Terry then quipped : `` Too old for this rubbish . ''
Tom walked away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chequebook and pen .
After playing the clip , actress Ruth Madoc , best known for playing Gladys Pugh in the 1980s BBC television comedy Hi-de-Hi !
, sent a happy birthday message to Tom after meeting him on the game show set as the episode ’ s celebrity guest .
She said : `` We met on Blankety Blank many years ago .
Well , haven ’ t you done well .
It 's wonderful what you ’ ve done .
`` Many , many congratulations to you on your 100th birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notepad and pen from it because it was very special . ''
Throughout the morning Tom has been sent well-wishes from a number of famous faces including Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
Earlier this morning he spoke on Good morning Britain and thanked people for their donations , which total more than £30million .
Tom said : “ Thank you very very much , it just shows what a marvelous country we are , made up of so many magnificent people who are still keeping up their spirits however difficult it may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day we are all going to win through .
It may be a bit difficult , it may take time , but we will win through in the end .
“ We started off with a little figure , we did that with hope , and look what we have got today , such a fabulous figure for the NHS .
“ It ’ s difficult to say how I feel about it .
It ’ s such a magnificent thing , all these people have done throughout the world to raise @ @ @ @ @ @

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If you thought you knew everything there is to know about Captain Tom Moore - you are mistaken.
It was revealed today that it isn’t the first time that the war hero - who has been promoted to honorary Colonel for his 100th birthday after raising £30 million for the NHS - has been on TV.
BBC Breakfast revealed he once appeared as a contestant on game show Blankety Blank - and viewers were delighted to see the throwback clip featuring a youthful looking Tom having banter with host Terry Wogan.
The episode, which was a Christmas special, saw Terry ask Tom where he was from.
“Tips end,” he replied, as the audience laughed.
“It’s a good place,” he added.
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Terry asked whether he had any friends or family he would rather were not watching him on the programme, and Tom mentioned his daughters, Hannah and Lucy, who have been supporting him in his fundraiser.
“Yes, two girls, coming up 16, coming up 14,” he replied.
Terry then quipped: "Too old for this rubbish."
Tom walked away from the show with the famous Blankety Blank chequebook and pen.
(Image: BBC)
After playing the clip, actress Ruth Madoc, best known for playing Gladys Pugh in the 1980s BBC television comedy Hi-de-Hi!, sent a happy birthday message to Tom after meeting him on the game show set as the episode’s celebrity guest.
She said: "We met on Blankety Blank many years ago. Well, haven’t you done well. It's wonderful what you’ve done.
"Many, many congratulations to you on your 100th birthday.
(Image: BBC)
"No wonder you saved the notepad and pen from it because it was very special."
Throughout the morning Tom has been sent well-wishes from a number of famous faces including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Earlier this morning he spoke on Good morning Britain and thanked people for their donations, which total more than £30million.
Tom said: “Thank you very very much, it just shows what a marvelous country we are, made up of so many magnificent people who are still keeping up their spirits however difficult it may be.
“But at the end of the day we are all going to win through. It may be a bit difficult, it may take time, but we will win through in the end.
“We started off with a little figure, we did that with hope, and look what we have got today, such a fabulous figure for the NHS.
“It’s difficult to say how I feel about it. It’s such a magnificent thing, all these people have done throughout the world to raise this sum of money.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-30--Apple updates Face ID so users don't have to remove facemasks to unlock phones

Apple has introduced a new feature that allows users to unlock their handset without the need to remove a face mask .
As the use of face masks becomes more common during the coronavirus pandemic , the usually handy function has become redundant with large parts of the face being covered .
Meaning users have been having to either remove their masks or fumble with the passcode option .
Unhelpful when you 're unlocking your device several times a day .
But the latest development in iOS sees a change to the feature where the handset can now detect if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Which means users can unlock their phones using Face ID without removing their protective mask .
The new update was discovered by users who have updated to the latest developer version of iOS 13.5 .
Face ID works by using a combination of light projectors and sensors to take several images of the users facial features to build a `` detailed depth map of your face to recognize you '' .
It was introduced in 2017 with the iPhone X allowing users to unlock their devices by looking at it instead of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear when this feature will land in the final version of the software update that will be pushed out to all users .
It comes as the tech giant announced a rare collaboration with rival firm Google to develop operating systems that can detect when the user comes in close proximity to another user .
This software forms part of the key technology that will allow contact tracing apps to work to anonymously send alerts if someone has been in contact with someone who ends up contracting coronavirus .

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Apple has introduced a new feature that allows users to unlock their handset without the need to remove a face mask.
As the use of face masks becomes more common during the coronavirus pandemic, the usually handy function has become redundant with large parts of the face being covered.
Meaning users have been having to either remove their masks or fumble with the passcode option. Unhelpful when you're unlocking your device several times a day.
But the latest development in iOS sees a change to the feature where the handset can now detect if the user is wearing a mask.
Which means users can unlock their phones using Face ID without removing their protective mask.
(Image: Wiki Commons)
The new update was discovered by users who have updated to the latest developer version of iOS 13.5.
Face ID works by using a combination of light projectors and sensors to take several images of the users facial features to build a "detailed depth map of your face to recognize you".
It was introduced in 2017 with the iPhone X allowing users to unlock their devices by looking at it instead of a fingerprint or a passcode.
It’s unclear when this feature will land in the final version of the software update that will be pushed out to all users.
It comes as the tech giant announced a rare collaboration with rival firm Google to develop operating systems that can detect when the user comes in close proximity to another user.
This software forms part of the key technology that will allow contact tracing apps to work to anonymously send alerts if someone has been in contact with someone who ends up contracting coronavirus.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-30--Armed police and helicopter called to reports of men with a firearm

Armed police and the police helicopter were called to reports of a group of men carrying a firearm in Cheshire .
There was a large police presence seen on Hampson Crescent , in Handforth , on Wednesday , April 29 .
An eyewitness told police no threats were made , but they believed the group of men were in possession of a fire arm .
Local officers , armed police and the police helicopter , were called to the scene at around 7.30pm .
The men were located at a nearby address .
Read more of today 's top stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered the weapon was a BB gun .
The group agreed to hand it over to officers voluntarily to be destroyed .
No arrests have been made .
A statement released by Cheshire Constabulary said : `` At around 7.30pm on Wednesday , April 29 , officers were called to report of a group of men acting suspiciously on Hampson Crescent .
`` The caller reported that no threats had been made but they believed the men were in possession of a firearm .
`` Local officers , supported by armed officers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and located the men at an address in Handforth .
`` After speaking to the group it was found that it was a BB gun , which the group agreed to hand over to officers voluntarily to be destroyed . ''

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Armed police and the police helicopter were called to reports of a group of men carrying a firearm in Cheshire.
There was a large police presence seen on Hampson Crescent, in Handforth, on Wednesday, April 29.
An eyewitness told police no threats were made, but they believed the group of men were in possession of a fire arm.
Local officers, armed police and the police helicopter, were called to the scene at around 7.30pm.
The men were located at a nearby address.
Police spoke to the group and discovered the weapon was a BB gun.
The group agreed to hand it over to officers voluntarily to be destroyed.
No arrests have been made.
A statement released by Cheshire Constabulary said: "At around 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 29, officers were called to report of a group of men acting suspiciously on Hampson Crescent.
"The caller reported that no threats had been made but they believed the men were in possession of a firearm.
"Local officers, supported by armed officers and the police helicopter, attended the scene and located the men at an address in Handforth.
"After speaking to the group it was found that it was a BB gun, which the group agreed to hand over to officers voluntarily to be destroyed."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-04-30--Serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga moved from Manchester to 'Monster Mansion' cell

Vile rapist Reynhard Sinaga has been moved to one of Britain ’ s most notorious prisons to serve his sentence .
‘ Psychopath ’ Sinaga , 37 , was jailed in January after carrying out 136 rapes and a string of sexual assaults against men in Manchester city centre .
He is now housed at HMP Wakefield - known as ‘ Monster Mansion ’ because of the large number of well known murderers and sex-offenders imprisoned there .
Sinaga will be behind bars with other depraved criminals such as the Black Cab rapist John Worboys , paedophile Ian Watkins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded as the country ’ s most dangerous inmate , also spent decades at HMP Wakefield .
Predator Sinaga - who is Britain ’ s most prolific rapist - drugged the victims with drinks laced with GHB or GBL and filmed the attacks on two mobile phones .
The Indonesian student was jailed for life in January and must spend at least 30 years behind bars before parole .
He had been living at HMP Manchester - known as Strangeways - since his arrest back in 2017 .
But he was moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 - just two days before his 37th birthday .
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said : “ Sinaga did move to Wakefield from Strangeways on February 17 .
“ Ordinarily probation and prison services review risk category and prison placement after sentence .
“ However as Sinaga had a number of trials they delayed the review until the conclusion of all trials and the sentencing in January.
” Sinaga was sentenced in relation to crimes against 48 men - but police believe the true number of victims may be closer to 195 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted as Sinaga was sentenced back in January and his shocking crimes were finally revealed .
In the days after , GMP received multiple calls from potential victims of the rapist .
Officers are still appealing for anyone who thinks they may have been targeted by Sinaga , or affected by his crimes , to get in touch via the Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site website .
What to do if you think you may have been affected by Sinaga 's crimes Anyone who thinks they may have been affected by Sinaga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him under similar circumstances , or someone like him , is urged to contact police via 101 .
Specialist officers are waiting to take their calls and offer the appropriate support .
The police can be contacted in the UK on 0800 092 0410 and internationally on 0207 158 0124 Counselling support can be reached via 0800 056 0154 or by calling 0207 158 0011 for international calls .
The Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site website is here Survivors Manchester supports boys and men who have been affected by rape and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors ( ISVA ) .
They offer assistance throughout the criminal justice system , from initial reports to court and beyond .
ISVAs work independently of the police , Crown Prosecution Service and court system .
Boys and Men in Greater Manchester affected by sexual abuse , regardless of when it happened , can access Survivors Manchester by calling 0161 236 2182 or emailing : support @ survivorsmanchester.org.uk A weekly drop in session takes place each Wednesday from 2pm until 5pm .
You can donate to Survivors Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works with women and girls affected by rape and sexual assault .
They can be contacted on 0161 273 4591 .
St Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides forensic , counselling and aftercare services for people affected by rape and sexual assault .
Their services can be accessed without contacting police by calling 0161 276 6515 or visiting : https : //www.stmaryscentre.org/ Sinaga - described as a “ narcissist and a psychopath ” by detectives - was jailed in January for drugging and raping 44 men and sexually assaulting a further four at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed each of the attacks on two mobile phones , evidence which formed the basis of his four trials at Manchester Crown Court .
He preyed on drunk and vulnerable young men by posing as a “ good Samaritan ” and offering help before lacing their drinks with the drug GHB , or GBL .
He was found guilty of all 136 rapes , eight attempted rapes and 14 sexual assaults involving 48 identified men during four trials at Manchester Crown Court .
Judge Suzanne Goddard QC described Sinaga as a “ highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will never be safe to be released ” .
But during sentencing she said she would “ shrink back ” from passing a whole-life term .
In the wake of his sentence , lawyers for the Crown Prosecution Service ( CPS ) wrote to the Attorney General who referred the case to the Court of Appeal for senior judges to look at whether Sinaga ’ s sentence should be increased .
The hearing has been set back to a later date .

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Vile rapist Reynhard Sinaga has been moved to one of Britain’s most notorious prisons to serve his sentence.
‘Psychopath’ Sinaga, 37, was jailed in January after carrying out 136 rapes and a string of sexual assaults against men in Manchester city centre.
He is now housed at HMP Wakefield - known as ‘Monster Mansion’ because of the large number of well known murderers and sex-offenders imprisoned there.
Sinaga will be behind bars with other depraved criminals such as the Black Cab rapist John Worboys, paedophile Ian Watkins and Jeremy Bamber.
(Image: PA)
Charles Bronson, widely regarded as the country’s most dangerous inmate, also spent decades at HMP Wakefield.
Predator Sinaga - who is Britain’s most prolific rapist - drugged the victims with drinks laced with GHB or GBL and filmed the attacks on two mobile phones.
The Indonesian student was jailed for life in January and must spend at least 30 years behind bars before parole.
He had been living at HMP Manchester - known as Strangeways - since his arrest back in 2017.
But he was moved to the Category A HMP Wakefield on February 17 - just two days before his 37th birthday.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Sinaga did move to Wakefield from Strangeways on February 17.
“The move is normal process after sentencing.
“Ordinarily probation and prison services review risk category and prison placement after sentence.
“However as Sinaga had a number of trials they delayed the review until the conclusion of all trials and the sentencing in January.”
(Image: Joel Goodman)
Sinaga was sentenced in relation to crimes against 48 men - but police believe the true number of victims may be closer to 195.
Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted as Sinaga was sentenced back in January and his shocking crimes were finally revealed.
In the days after, GMP received multiple calls from potential victims of the rapist.
Officers are still appealing for anyone who thinks they may have been targeted by Sinaga, or affected by his crimes, to get in touch via the Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site website.
What to do if you think you may have been affected by Sinaga's crimes Anyone who thinks they may have been affected by Sinaga’s crimes, come into contact with him under similar circumstances, or someone like him, is urged to contact police via 101. Information can also be passed to police via the Major Incident Public Portal. The MIPP will also provide contact details for support agencies to anyone who accesses it. The Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site website is here For anyone who wishes to seek support but does not want to talk to police, St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre can be reached on 0161 276 6515 or here. St Mary's provides forensic, counselling and aftercare services for people affected by rape and sexual assault. The National Male Survivors Helpline can be contacted on 0808 800 5005. Survivors Manchester supports boys and men who have been affected by rape and sexual assault. The charity provides therapeutic support and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA). They offer assistance throughout the criminal justice system, from initial reports to court and beyond. ISVAs work independently of the police, Crown Prosecution Service and court system. Boys and Men in Greater Manchester affected by sexual abuse, regardless of when it happened, can access Survivors Manchester by calling 0161 236 2182 or emailing: support@survivorsmanchester.org.uk A weekly drop in session takes place each Wednesday from 2pm until 5pm. You can donate to Survivors Manchester here. Greater Manchester Rape Crisis works with women and girls affected by rape and sexual assault. They can be contacted on 0161 273 4591.
Sinaga - described as a “narcissist and a psychopath” by detectives - was jailed in January for drugging and raping 44 men and sexually assaulting a further four at his Manchester city centre apartment.
He filmed each of the attacks on two mobile phones, evidence which formed the basis of his four trials at Manchester Crown Court.
He preyed on drunk and vulnerable young men by posing as a “good Samaritan” and offering help before lacing their drinks with the drug GHB, or GBL.
(Image: PA)
He was found guilty of all 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes and 14 sexual assaults involving 48 identified men during four trials at Manchester Crown Court.
Judge Suzanne Goddard QC described Sinaga as a “highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released”.
But during sentencing she said she would “shrink back” from passing a whole-life term.
In the wake of his sentence, lawyers for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wrote to the Attorney General who referred the case to the Court of Appeal for senior judges to look at whether Sinaga’s sentence should be increased.
The hearing has been set back to a later date.