Manchester council leader Garry Bridges has paid tribute to 'Mr Manchester' Pat Karney, who has died at the age of 78, telling the Manchester Evening News there will never be anyone like him again.
Described as a true one-off, he was a familiar face to generations of Mancunians and one of the city's most prominent and well-known local politicians, serving as a councillor in Harpurhey from 1979. Coun Karney was also a champion and spokesperson for the Christmas Markets and festive events.
Book of condolence opened
A book of condolence was opened today at Manchester Central Library, where a flag will be flying at half-mast in tribute. Among those paying tribute today were Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who hailed him as 'a tireless champion for the people he represented.'
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City Council leader Garry Bridges said the 'huge outpouring of grief but also support for everything Pat did in his time in the city' showed how highly regarded he was and his 'extraordinary service'.
He described the late councillor as someone who had 'a real sense of fun but underneath it was deeply serious about his politics as well and the things that really mattered to him'.
'Truly individual'
Pointing to times he brought out a chicken mask in the council chamber, Coun Bridges said: "When Pat picked up his carrier bag of tricks, you never knew exactly what was in it. We all look back with fondness now."
He added: "There was no one like Pat Karney and there never will be again. Pat was sort of truly individual.
"He was never afraid to just go out there and make the case he wanted, to do what he wanted, and play by a lot of the rules other people do."
Coun Bridges said as a result of Coun Karney's work to promote civic pride in the city, Manchester 'has a much stronger sense of itself and confidence in itself as a city'.
He added: "The thing about Pat is he was one of those people that was always there for you.
"No matter what happened in your life and you needed someone, Pat was one of those people that was always at the end of the phone. Not only was he very caring and remembered everything about your life but he also had incredible judgment and was very very wise.
"Here in the city, that's something we will really miss. Pat's wisdom, his judgment, and his friendship."
Minute's silence at council meeting
At a Manchester council meeting on October 14, other councillors also paid tribute to a colleague they respected with a minute's silence was held. Pointing to Coun Karney's work around Christmas Markets, Coun Bridges said he was 'committed to Christmas in Manchester right to the very end'.
Coun John Leech, who leads the city's Liberal Democrats, said: "It's fair to say we didn't always see eye to eye. I was probably on the end of a lot of some of his big speeches in the council chamber in recent years.
"He always revelled in the spotlight whether or not he was under pressure or whether he was just on the attack. For years, he's been your attack dog in the council chamber."
He added: "He was always able to wing it, say something off the cuff regardless of what it was about. Certainly he was very much larger than life."
