UK Government Pays $34 Million Toward Manchester Attack Relief Fund

Peter Byrne / PA via AP – Manchester Arena Explosions
Armed police gather at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England, May 22. Police say there are “a number of fatalities” after reports of an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England

The city of Manchester will receive another £13 million ($18 million) from the UK government, Prime Minister Theresa May announced, bringing the total amount of funding up to £24 million ($33.9 million).

Most of the money, more than £9 million ($12.7 million), will go to Greater Manchester Police for extra staffing and other pressures following the May 22 attack. The rest is for the region’s hospitals and ambulance services ($5.7 million), mental health support ($2.8 million) – in addition to $76,000 for psychological support – and social care ($637,000).

$1.4 million are for the We Love Manchester emergency fund, created for those affected by the attack. It’s the fund run in partnership with the British Red Cross, which also received the money raised through the June 4 One Love Manchester concert last year.

Marketing Manchester, the city’s tourist agency, will receive $353,000 to promote the region, and small businesses affected by the attack can count on $113,000. The UK government also pledged to cover the full coroner and inquest costs.

Said May: “Following last year’s terrible attack the strength and resilience of Manchester captured the nation – and nowhere was this more apparent than at the One Love Concert and city vigils where people joined together not only in grief, but to demonstrate to terrorists that they will never win.

“We were clear immediately following the attack, just as we are now, that the government will do everything it can to respond to the needs of victims of terror.

“That is why we have ensured that resources will be available to support victims as they continue to rebuild their lives, and to meet the costs placed on Manchester’s emergency services, City Council and health and social care providers in dealing with this tragic and exceptional event.”

May had promised to cover the full costs of the May 22 aftermath, after Manchester City Council had pointed out that the UK government’s initial financial aid had been insufficient.

Its latest funding announcement, however, states that “further requests for central government to cover the locally commissioned Lord Kerslake Review, transport costs – which are a commercial matter for insurers – and additional tourism promotion have not been met.”

According to Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, the UK government should cover those costs as well. “Manchester’s public services, including the council, responded magnificently to a terrible set of circumstances in the aftermath of the May 22 attack. Inevitably, this response incurred significant costs and it is only right and proper that – as they promised at the time – the government should pick up these costs rather than the people of Manchester having to do so,” he said.

He added: “Manchester has been unstinting in its calls to the government to recognize its commitment. While we welcome the fact that they have gone a large way towards addressing this, it is disappointing that they have not reimbursed the full costs incurred by the council as a result of this horrific event.”

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “We are grateful that the Prime Minister has taken a personal interest in ensuring the costs incurred in dealing with the horrific attack on the Arena last May are reimbursed. We have a clear commitment to meet the majority of the costs and that is welcome.  However, there remain important outstanding issues and Sir Richard Leese and I will seek to resolve them with the Government.”