Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham spent more than £36,000 of public money on Pride events and a Stonewall membership last year, Freedom of Information data reveals. The largest sum, a £33,000 grant , went to Manchester Pride's Superbia programme, which provides micro-grants of up to £1,000 to artists from specific demographic groups. The disclosures come as Burnham pursues a parliamentary seat in the Makerfield by-election, a contest that will now be shadowed by questions about public spending priorities.

The £33,000 Superbia Grant: What It Funds and Who It Targets

According to the FOI data, the £33,000 grant to Manchester Pride Ltd underwrites the year-round Superbia programme. This programme explicitly prioritizes projects created by and for Queer, Trans and Intersex People of Colour and wider trans communities. Micro-grants of up to £1,000 are awarded to artists, meaning the funds are distributed across dozens of small initiatives rather than one large event.

The programme's targeting has drawn criticism from groups like the TaxPayers' Alliance, which argues that public funds should not be used to support activism focused on particular identity groups. William Yarwood of the TaxPayers' Alliance was quoted in the disclosures saying taxpayers would be furious to see money funneled into niche political causes.

Stonewall's £2,575 Fee and a Wider Institutional Retreat

Beyond the Pride grant, Burnham's combined authority paid £2,575 to Stonewall for its Proud Employer Membership scheme. This membership provides consultancy, training, and networking for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. The fee is notable because, as the FOI data highlights, more than 100 public sector bodies including all major UK government departments have withdrawn from Stonewall programmes over concerns about political impartiality and value for money.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority's continued membership places it at odds with this trend, raising questions about Burnham's alignment with central government's stance. The spending on Stonewall is a relatively small amount but symbolically potent given the national shift away from the charity.

The Leaked 2022 Recording and Burnham's Gender Identity Stance

The spending controversy is intertwined with Burnham's public position on gender identity and single-sex spaces.. A leaked recording from 2022, cited in the FOI disclosures, captures Burnham saying that the view that biological sex should determine access to single-sex toilets is a minority position and that women's safety is not necessarily at risk from the presence of biological males. He criticized supposed feminists for engaging in culture wars.

This stance has drawn fire from women's rights advocates and aligns with the kind of activism that the Superbia programme funds. It also puts Burnham at odds with the Equality and Human Rights Commission's interim guidance,which followed a Supreme Court ruling affirming that single-sex spaces should be reserved for people of the corresponding biological sex. The combined £36,475 expenditure is therefore not just a financial issue but a cultural one.

Makerfield By-Election: Why £36,475 Could Become a Campaign Flashpoint

Burnham is currently seeking the parliamentary candidacy for the Makerfield by-election, a move widely seen as a springboard for a future Labour leadership challenge. The FOI data provides ammunition for opponents who will argue that the mayor prioritized fringe identity politics over core services like crime reduction and infrastructure.

A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority defended the spending, stating that the region's history of championing equality and diversity is a key raeson people want to live, work,and invest there. but on the campaign trail in a constituency that may prioritize different concerns, the £36,475 figure – whether considered large or small – could become a symbol of misplaced priorities.