The Mancunian Way: Waste of a good plant pot

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Now we’ve waved goodbye to the Conservative Party attendees, I promise you normal service will resume in this newsletter. But you’ll forgive me if I share one last piece of gossip with you from the conference.

It’s got nothing to do with flattened guide dogs or 90s indie bands - but it does have something to do with excessive drinking. Our chief reporter Neal Keeling has discovered that one Conservative Party delegate was left with a hefty bill after one drink too many.

Neal reports that the 'drunk' man urinated in a pricey plant pot at the four-star Midland Hotel before falling over and smashing it. And the incident unfolded in full view of emergency service workers.

Neal understands the man agreed to settle up with the hotel and cover the cost of the damage to the pot - which was worth several thousand pounds.

A spokesman for the Conservatives said: "It is not something we would want to comment on."

In the space of a week 33 people were arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse related offences all within the same Greater Manchester borough. So why the sudden rise?

It’s because officers have been working with an independent domestic abuse advisor (IDVA) who turns up to call with them. Arriving to reports of domestic violence with this highly skilled expert means victims - many of whom are scared to make official complaints against their abusers - are offered legal advice and reassurance that they will be supported.

The trial by Greater Manchester Police has been piloted in Oldham - an area the force says has a 'high