PoliticsTrending
Pat Karney, a Manchester councillor who represented Harpurhey since 1979, has died aged 78. Tributes from city leaders highlight his role in post-1996 regeneration and his advocacy for gay rights.
Pat Karney, a long-serving Manchester councillor, has died aged 78. He had represented the Harpurhey ward since 1979. According to Manchester City Council, Karney had been receiving treatment for cancer at The Christie and was grateful for the care he received.
Karney was a prominent figure in local government for nearly five decades. He served as the council’s city centre spokesperson for many years and was a director of Cityco, the city centre management company, since 2000. He also served as a director of Marketing Manchester between 2002 and 2014.
The council noted that Karney chaired the City Centre Committee, which was established to oversee regeneration following the 1996 IRA bomb. He was also credited with the idea for Manchester Day, an annual celebration first held in 2010, and served as a spokesperson for the city’s Christmas Markets.
Council leader Garry Bridges described Karney as “a giant of Manchester politics” and “one of the city’s most recognisable public figures for nearly 50 years.” Bridges stated that Karney “was truly a one-off and someone whose loss the city will feel deeply.”
Karney moved from Dublin to Manchester at the age of nine and remained involved with the city’s Irish community, including the Irish Festival. He was also known for his campaigning on gay rights, particularly through Manchester City Council’s opposition to Clause 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said Karney was “affectionately known by many as Mr Manchester.” She noted that he was “a trailblazer in politics” who “championed the gay village and LGBT equality.” Craig added that Karney “delivered on the ground from new council housing and a GP surgery to championing a new North Manchester Hospital.”
Council chief executive Tom Stannard said he would miss Karney’s “wisdom, his generosity with time and his inimitable grasp of Manchester’s history as well as his forever optimism about its future.” Stannard described Karney as someone who “epitomised public service.”
The council announced that details of a book of condolence, including an online version, would be released soon. Bridges confirmed that Karney continued working for his constituents until the end of his life.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as US ambassador to Greece after the White House asked her to step down amid allegations of bribery and ethics violations reported by the Wall Street Journal.
PoliticsTrending
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman met for their only debate before the Nov. 3 election. Polls show Hochul leading, with affordability and party endorsements as key themes.
