just to redress the balance,manchester as a large conurbation grew as a direct result of the slave trade,the damp climate ideal for cotton spinning,which was harvested by slaves.The heavy engineering industry grew from producing bigger and faster machines and power generators to meet the demand,and the railways had major factories in east manchester,the coal industry grew to provide the fuel. The industrial revolution produced the highest child mortality in europe,the so-called trickle-down of wealth proving to be just a glib phrase.manchester and glasgow tied for first place in the slum stakes. We did have the first NHS hospital, in davyhulme,paid for by the yanks to service their giant base at Burtonwood,and the suffragette movement had its base here.The Christie Hospital is a leader in cancer detection and treatment,along with the Holt radium institute.The Ship canal was world-famous at one time providing a port for manchester liners. As long as the country is run by london for london the future of manchester and other northern/midland cities is one of accelerating decline. No doubt steven fry (aka prestwich blue) or mike parry ( bb2) will blame the unions.
