Hannah Spencer is the new Green Party MP, but what was her life like before politics? (Picture: Getty Images)
All eyes are on Hannah Spencer, the 34-year-old plumber who took the Gorton and Denton by-election in a sweeping victory for the Greens.
The Mancunian and the Greens celebrated the party’s first-ever by-election win as the results were counted, giving her a lead of 4,402 votes.
While Labour, for whom the loss behind both Greens and Reform was the ultimate nightmare, will begin the painful process of licking their wounds, the spotlight is on Hannah.
Here is a deep dive into her background and life.
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Where is Hannah Spencer from?
Hannah Spencer was born in Bolton, where she studied to become a plumber (Picture: Bruce Adams/Daily Mail)
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Hannah Spencer was born in Bolton, a town northwest of Manchester City, which forms part of Greater Manchester.
She left school at 16 and took a stint at a sixth form before dropping out and finding her vocation.
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Her current home is in Trafford, where she reportedly owns two homes in the Altrincham and Sale West area, one of which she bought with her former partner.
Earlier, Spencer has reportedly lived in Levenshulme, which is part of Gorton and Denton constituency.
Is she really a plumber?
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Yes, she has worked in the trades for years and owns her business, Hannah’s Household Plumbing.
She reportedly became a plumber around 2008 and she went on to earn a National Vocational Qualification in the profession from Bolton College.
She has also completed an NVQ in gas engineering, and started a plastering course in the new year.
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Spencer has shared about her work online and talked about the stereotypes she has come across as a woman in the industry.
During her victory speech this morning, she joked about having to ‘cancel the work’ that has been booked.
She said: ‘Now, to my customers, I’m sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you haven’t booked in, because I’m heading to parliament.’
When did she get into politics?
Spencer, who is a dog lover and proud owner of four rescue greyhounds, got into politics because of the animals and her passion to have dog racing banned.
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And her political career and experience of elections has quickly mounted since.
After joining the Greens in 2022, she was elected as a local councillor for the Hale ward in Trafford the following year.
And in 2024, she was already eyeing up the Greater Manchester mayoral job held by Andy Burnham. She entered the race as Green Party’s candidate and finished fifth with almost 46,000 votes.
Hannah Spencer supported Zack Polanski in his Green Party leadership bid last year, and Polanski returned the favour by endorsing her in the Gorton and Denton race (Picture: AFP/Getty)
Last month, she was officially selected as the Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton to challenge Labour and Reform, who many predicted would compete for the election win.
What does she stand for?
Spencer pitched her campaign on politicians being genuinely relatable, andbeing against hate and division, which she has accused right-wing parties like Reform of sowing.
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campaigned for the rights of workers and women, including trans women, and the people of Gaza.
Her ‘number one priority’ in the by-election was to ‘cut the cost of living’ and ‘fight between hope and hate.’
She said during the race: ‘We need more people from all backgrounds in the places where decisions are made.’
Spencer has also been vocal about opposing the far right and calling out Islamophobia.
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In her election victory speech, she said: ‘I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.
‘My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me, human.’
Durham Police Inspector Dave Clarke has received the National Pubwatch Malcolm Eidmans Award, which celebrates the contributions of police officers or staff who have supported the Pubwatch scheme.
Pubwatch is a voluntary organisation that helps to create safer drinking environments by supporting more than 800 schemes across the UK.
Insp Clarke was recognised for his proactive leadership and support of the Durham Pubwatch scheme.
Left, Durham Police Inspector DaveClarke and National Pubwatch honorary president Lord Graham Evans (Image: Supplied)
He paid tribute to the wider team and partner organisations, saying: “I’m truly honoured to receive the Malcolm Eidmans Award.
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“It means a great deal, and I accept it with genuine humility, because this recognition really belongs to the wider Safe Durham partnership rather than to any one individual.
“Durham City Pubwatch works so well because of the commitment, professionalism, and care shown by so many people.
“This includes my colleagues in Durham City Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Force Licensing Team and the premises managers, door staff, and venue teams who work closely with us every week to keep the city safe.
“That close relationship through Pubwatch helps us achieve the licensing objectives, prevent misunderstandings, and address concerns early.
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“Above all, it supports our shared aim of protecting people and ensuring Durham remains a welcoming place to live, work, and visit.
“Together, we help make sure everyone can enjoy a night out in our wonderful city without fear or worry for the safety of their friends and family.”
One of Insp Clarke’s key achievements includes his involvement in Operation Hydrate, which trained and empowered floor staff to help address intoxication-related safety concerns.
He also secured funding for thousands of cans of branded water to be handed out during peak trading times.
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National Pubwatch chair Steve Baker, OBE, said: “Dave has a proactive and collaborative approach to working with his local Pubwatch.
“He builds trust and rapport by engaging with licensees on a personal level, often initiating conversations to strengthen partnerships.
“His positive, people-focused approach is exemplary, and National Pubwatch is proud to recognise him with this award.”
Manchester City will face Real Madrid for the 10th and 11th time in just five seasons after being drawn against the Spanish giants in the Champions League round of 16.
The clash between City and Real is one of the showpiece ties of the knockout stages, alongside Chelsea’s meeting with Paris St-Germain, the holders.
The French side will be looking for revenge against Chelsea after they were thrashed by the Premier League team in last summer’s Club World Cup final.
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Newcastle United will face Barcelona again, having already lost 2-1 to Hansi Flick’s side in the league phase of the competition, while Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn against Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool will meet Galatasaray, who defeated Juventus in the play-off round, for the second time in this season’s Champions League. Liverpool lost 1-0 in Turkey in September.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will face German side Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Olympiacos in the play-off rounds.
First-round ties will be held on March 10-11. The return legs will be on March 17-18.
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Meanwhile in the Europa League, Nottingham Forest take on Denmark’s Midtjylland while Aston Villa have been drawn against Lille.
Last 16 predictions: Only two English clubs to go through
PSG v Chelsea Arguably the tie of the round. Chelsea stunned PSG, the reigning European champions, in last summer’s Club World Cup final, winning 3-0 in the United States. Can they repeat the trick over two legs? It’s a tough ask, given the attacking firepower and midfield class of the French side. Luis Enrique knows how to navigate these occasions. Verdict: PSG progress.
Galatasaray v Liverpool Liverpool lost 1-0 away to Galatasaray earlier in the competition but will feel confident of exacting revenge on the Turkish side. The biggest threat to Arne Slot’s team will be Victor Osimhen, scorer of 23 goals for club and country this season, but Liverpool should have enough. Verdict: Liverpool progress.
Real Madrid v Manchester City Are you bored of this contest yet? As a match-up, it has certainly lost some of its appeal to neutrals, given the regularity with which it is played. City won in Madrid earlier this season at a time when head coach Xabi Alonso was under huge pressure. Alonso has since been sacked, though, and Real now look a little more sturdy. Verdict: Real progress.
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Atalanta v Bayern Munich Atalanta stunned Borussia Dortmund in the play-offs, winning in dramatic fashion, but surely will not be able to stop the mighty Bayern from progressing. Bayern are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and have Harry Kane in absurdly good form: he has scored nine goals in his last six matches. Verdict: Bayern progress.
Newcastle United v Barcelona Newcastle are capable of rattling any opponent, especially at home. Barcelona will have no fear, though, after winning 2-1 at St James’ Park in September. The La Liga leaders displayed intelligence and technique that Newcastle could not match, and they will expect to do so again over two legs. Verdict: Barcelona progress.
Atletico Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur For Spurs, the Champions League has been a welcome distraction from their struggles in the Premier League this season. A meeting with Atletico might not be so enjoyable, especially given their injury issues and the need to focus on domestic survival. This is not a brilliant Atletico team but they are usually horrible opponents. Verdict: Atletico progress.
Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP Bodo/Glimt have been the story of the season in European football, winning matches against City, Atletico and Inter Milan since the turn of the year. It has been an extraordinary run and this is, on paper at least, another winnable tie. Sporting are second in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, four points behind Porto. Verdict: The Bodo/Glimt fairytale continues.
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Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal This appears to be a lovely draw for Arsenal, who dominated the league phase of the competition. Leverkusen are sixth in the Bundesliga, more than 20 points off the top, and have been inconsistent all season. Verdict: Arsenal progress.
Quarter-finals, semis and final: Last-gasp heartbreak for Arsenal
Thursday’s (February 26) instalment of the popular ITV game show saw Jamie, a university worker, make it to the final round and pocket £3,000.
During the show, when asked about what he intended to do with his winnings, Jamie informed the host that he planned to put the money towards IVF treatment with his partner Hayley. Jamie discussed how he and his partner wished to give their son, Otis, a sibling, but would require IVF to achieve this.
Taking to social media, Ben has now revealed an update on the winner and his family, sharing that the couple had “hit the jackpot” as they welcomed triplets, reports Wales Online.
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Posting pictures of the family on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the ITV presenter penned: “So if you saw Tipping Point [on] ITV today you might have seen Jamie talk about using any winnings for IVF with Hayley to give Otis, their son, a little bro or sis.”
Ben added: “Well, they hit the jackpot with our first Tipping Point triplets, Nova, Jasper and Billy. Not sure it gets much better.”
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Many viewers were delighted with the outcome and were “moved” by Jamie’s story, expressing joy at the news of Otis’ three new siblings. Ben responded to many saying it was the “best news”.
Comedian Ted Robbins commented: “Just wonderful. Judy and I watched and were so moved by it – and your lovely empathy with them. We are anticipating our 3rd Grandchild and in a sometimes grotty world, always remember that every life is precious.”
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website
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Another viewer expressed: “So glad you shared their joyous news Ben. The world needs more happy happy news. Congratulations to the whole family,” while a third said: “Just seen this on FB. How lovely is this that man not only won on the show he also won at life. What a beautiful family.”
A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Aww, congratulations to them all, so lovely that the money could help them see their dream come to fruition,” with another person similarly sharing: “So glad you shared their joyous news Ben. The world needs more happy happy news. Congratulations to the whole family.”
Another viewer aimed their message at Ben, saying: “What a beautiful family! Well worth the win and certainly hit the jackpot! This must have made you so proud to be a part of this,” with the delighted presenter replying: “It really does.”
Tipping Point is available to stream on ITVX
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Because of this, many have called for a boycott of the movie, and with the reviews for part seven having now been published, producers have even more problems on their hands.
Separate from the controversy, the film has been almost unanimously criticised in initial reviews, with even the most positive capping at three stars, and the most unimpressed slamming the film for being uninspired and derivative compared to the series’ most popular outings.
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Scream 7 also has the unenviable record of holding the lowest critical score of the whole franchise on Rotten Tomatoes at 37%, while its Letterboxd score sits at a lowly 2.6 stars at the time of writing.
Here’s a round-up of what critics are saying about Scream 7…
“The overfamiliarity would be more palatable if the dialogue were as fresh and funny as it was in the early instalments, or if the kills were more creatively staged. But there’s a rote quality to the proceedings that makes Scream 7 feel like a slog despite its high body count and copious gore.”
Neve Campbell returns to the Scream franchise in the latest film, after not appearing in the sixth instalment
“Scream 7 is a bland and rote bum note, a last-minute patch-up job that was apparently necessitated by the untimely departure of several personnel who made the very successful and quite brilliant Scream 6 […] It’s as if nobody realised that a Scream movie without the irony is just a bad horror movie.”
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“[Director Kevin] Williamson has gone back to basics, but the result is a Scream sequel that, while it nods in the direction of being seductively convoluted, is really just…basic.”
“Scream 7, directed by original scribe Kevin Williamson (who also wrote the second and fourth movies), at times comes dangerously close to forgetting just what it is that the fans of the ‘Stab’/Scream franchise want.”
“Genuinely inept in every way, Scream 7 is far and away the worst of the franchise, a shallow rendering of things that worked better in other films.”
“Nostalgia, in the end, isn’t this sequel’s theme but its shield. It doesn’t erase the franchise’s highs, but nevertheless stains the canon with a fraught production nightmare that will be remembered as unnecessary.
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“Horror can’t work without bravery, on and off screen. But Scream 7 mistook safety for survival, and in doing so, coughed up the least dangerous Ghostface yet.”
“Please put the Scream franchise out of its misery. [Scream 7] is the worst one yet. Even loyal fans are likely to shrug at its vacuous mediocrity. So what hope is there for the rest of us?”
“That’s all Scream 7 is – the same old regurgitated slasher mush Hamburger Helper’d with a dash of AI. It’s a near-lethal dose of nostalgia to anesthetise sad, sad millennials.”
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“Sluggish, unscary, and plagiaristic in not-ingenious ways, [Scream 7 is] definitive proof that it’s time to retire Ghostface and his gravely hackneyed games.”
“The elements were there for Scream 7 to be a classic Scream movie, one that centred on Sidney and hopefully avoided any awkwardness of it being a sort-of soft reboot to the reboot. But unfortunately what we’re left with is a sequel that is repetitive, bland and ultimately generic, possibly the worst thing for a Scream movie to be.”
“It’s not that Scream 7 is a bad Scream movie. There are no bad Scream movies (yet). Even the worst one is kind of alright, and this is the worst one. It just never seems like there was a story that needed to be told, or a point that needed to be made.”
Courteney Cox as Gayle Weathers in Scream 7
“Scream 7 [is] an off-the-shelf, stock-itemed legacy sequel that previous Screams would’ve skewered for its timidity. A carbon copy of the original 1996 movie except where it counts, Scream 7 ultimately plays closer to other ’90s knockoffs that faded into obscurity. It’s the Halloween H20 of Scream movies, a heartless cash-grab sequel that brings back a genre legend in something that wants so badly to be Scream that it bleeds itself dry.”
“[Scream 7] does have surprises but they are quite tame by Scream standards. A smattering of inventive kills, for sure, the ever-reliable Courtney Cox in the fray as Gale Weathers, yes. But as for the several things some would probably call ‘spoilers’? None are that exciting, even if people might complain should they be mentioned here.
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“While we’re in negative mode, let’s also be real – even for a horror film, the lighting is far too dark in almost every scene.”
“While it’s all entertaining enough – and there’s plenty of jumps and bloodshed – the story gets far too silly and misleading. It does what it says on the tin, but the mask has slipped a little.”
“It could be argued that a desire to respect a well-established template prevents Scream 7 from venturing too boldly into pastures new, opting instead to concentrate on tried and tested does-what-it-says-on-the-tin tropes, but the director deserves credit for the few occasions where he manages to add a modicum of spice to the formula of his 30-year-old ‘baby’.
“There are undeniable faults, plot holes and a dubious ending, although it’s still a crowd-pleaser executed with zest.”
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“While the bar might be low outside of the franchise for not only a seventh slasher but a seventh of anything, the bar within it, for a Scream sequel is that much higher.
“There’s just about enough here to show signs of life (with tracking suggesting a huge opening, Scream 8 is an inevitability) but Williamson often feels like he’s treading water when he should be drawing blood.”
“With a fun script that takes nothing seriously, Scream 7 should be just the ticket to get fans psyched for the further adventures of Sidney Prescott and company.”
Drivers will need to pay for their parking by midnight the day after they leave the car park. This can be done either online, by phone or automatically using an Auto Pay account which they can pre-register for.
The barrierless system will be introduced at T2 West Multi-Storey car park on Wednesday March 25, coming into force from one minute past midnight. The airport explained that the system has been introduced as traffic levels at the T2 West Multi-Storey car park have increased since most airlines moved over to Terminal 2 last year.
By introducing the new system and removing barriers, queues are less likely to build up so people can enter and exit more quickly – and it means they won’t be bumped up to a higher pricing tier.
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A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “We’re introducing a new barrierless parking system at T2 West Multi-Storey car park to make people’s journeys quicker and easier. At the moment there are often queues to exit the car park, which can cause people to stay for longer than they intended and pay more as a result. With no barriers on entry or exit, there will be no need to stop, queue, or use an on-site pay station.
“People will simply drive in and out as normal – vehicles will be recognised automatically. Drivers can then pay for their parking after their visit online, by phone, or automatically using an Auto Pay account. This will save them time and money.
“Barrierless parking is already widely used across Greater Manchester and beyond and many drivers may already be familiar with it. Clear signage and signs and step-by-step guidance will be in place throughout the car park to help drivers use the new system with confidence.”
The airport has emphasised that there is signage in place reminding passengers of the system, and that drivers can pre-register to make payments automatically. According to the airport the system will ultimately save motorists time and money.
Drivers who fail to pay by midnight the following day are warned that a £100.00 Parking Charge Notice will be issued, which will be reduced to £60.00 if paid within 14 days or the total outstanding parking tariff if higher than the reduced parking charge amount.
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According to the airport’s website, ‘turn up and park’ prices for the T2 Multi Storey West car park start from £6.40 for 15 minutes, increasing to £31.80 for up to four hours, and £61.40 for 24 hours and each subsequent 24 hours thereafter (or part thereof). The airport does say that there are no plans to increase the tariffs at T2 West Multi Storey.
‘If you can see IKEA you can see the signs’
Following the publication of our article, Manchester Evening News readers shared their thoughts on our Facebook page. The news has divided readers as some point out that the system is clearly explained and there are alternatives available, while others fear that it would be easy to miss making a payment.
One reader, Ray Scott, pointed out that drivers could slip up. He wrote: “Be aware people, they are just waiting for you to make a mistake.” Another Facebook user, Farid Rana commented: “It’s £100 if you forget to pay in time…..thats what they are working on.”
Another Facebook user, Joseph John, said that he chooses to fly from Liverpool Airport instead. He wrote: “Despite living five minutes away from Manchester airport I travel from Liverpool wherever possible as I just cannot bear this airport.
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“The “rationale” for this change, easing congestion traffic etc caused by the barriers is marginally believable. However when you then realise the absurdly short payment period and the size of the fine it’s clear what the real goal is here, which is the usual goal of Manchester airport – to shaft and rip off their customers.”
Liverpool Airport does not currently have a barrierless system in place. It’s worth noting that Manchester Airport is introducing the system to ensure that motorists are paying less than they need to by removing the need to wait at the barriers.
However, several readers pointed out that the system is easy to follow and is clearly signposted. Eve Megan McGuire commented: “The signs are massive and bright yellow. If you can see IKEA you can see the signs.”
Others pointed out that there are alternative options. Sue Johnson commented: “Use free drop area simples then no fines.” Imran Khurshid wrote: “Just go by tram.”
International Women’s Day is a global celebration held every year on March 8, commemorating women’s achievements worldwide.
First observed more than 115 years ago, it’s evolved into a widespread celebration that honours women past and present who fought for gender equality and for funding female-focused charities.
It also looks ahead: celebrating future generations of women and all the incredible female-led movements happening around the world.
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Under the new annual theme, organisers are inviting men and women to partake in campaign efforts to raise awareness.
Here’s what International Women’s Day is about and how you can get involved in this year’s event.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
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Origins in women’s suffrage have evolved into a day of celebration and advancement of women’s rights.
How did International Women’s Day begin?
The first official International Women’s Day was in 1975, when it was recognised by the United Nations (UN).
But its origins date back to 1908, when a women’s rights march in New York City drew 15,000 people advocating for better pay and voting rights.
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IWD was then commemorated in the United States on February 28, 1909, with countries like Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland joining the occasion in 1911.
Clara Zetkin suggested the event be taken global at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910.
The date wasn’t formalised until a wartime strike in 1917, when Russian women demanded “bread and peace”. Four days into the strike, the tsar was forced to abdicate, and the provisional government granted women emancipation.
The strike began on March 8, and this became the date that International Women’s Day is celebrated.
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What is the theme this year for International Women’s Day?
The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is ‘Give to Gain’ and is meant to emphasise that giving time, knoweldge and support can benefit everyone.
According to the IWD website: “We can all give our support to gain advancement for women and girls.
“As individuals, giving support means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, celebrating women’s success, and more.”
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“Sharing our knowledge and encouragement with others is also key.
“Everyday, everywhere, how will you actively give your support to gain gender equality?”
What’s happening on the day and in London?
There are lots of events happening across London to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, as well as Women’s History Month. Some of the events you may want to take part in include:
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Shoreditch Town Hall: An IWD tour of the Grade II Listed building, recalling the stories of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, and women’s rights advocates, including Helen Taylor, and Henrietta Girling OBE.
Soho: The Her-Story International Women’s Day Concert is taking place at The Phoenix Arts Club, bringing together a mix of musical theatre performances from women in the community.
Bishopgate: IWD pledges workshop and charity run, inviting people to enjoy a “brunch-style gathering centred on generosity and intention”.
Piccadilly: Afternoon tea is being hosted at Fortnum & Mason, bringing together women from all walks of life for meaningful conversations and fundraising.
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The IWD campaign is calling for people to use this year’s hashtags and for all IWD events to incorporate an element of women-focused fundraising.
The International Women’s Day website also includes an arsenal of free resources, including graphics and event ideas so you can take part in your own way.
Do we still need an International Women’s Day?
The short answer is yes.
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While women’s rights and the equality narrative have excelled in some parts of the world, the reality is that women still face countless challenges because of their gender — even in the UK.
The World Economic Forum previously claimed that gender parity is about a century away, meaning there’s a long way to go.
The World Bank also revealed that 2.4 billion women of working age around the world don’t receive equal economic opportunities compared to men.
This campaign is as much for future generations as it is for people today. It’s about bringing these topics to the forefront, shining a light on the challenges and finding impactful outcomes.
Soap viewers flooded the comment section of my original piece (thanks, guys!) with plenty to say about who they’d be happy to say goodbye to, while the poll results show a landslide victory (or loss) for one particular character. Let’s explore, shall we?
The poll results
The viewers have spoken! (Picture: Metro)
With 68% of the votes, it’s crystal clear: Corrie viewers are ready to see the back of Theo.
It’s hardly shocking, though. Scenes of Theo abusing his victim, Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce), have been incredibly graphic and raw and have undoubtedly had an enormous impact on viewers.
While Carl and Jodie’s crimes have been heightened and soapy, Maggie’s murder of her husband coming in the form of a flashback and Megan’s abuse of Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) being largely (and thankfully) of-screen, with star Beth confirming that physical contact between the two is kept to a minimum due to Lucas’ age, Theo’s misdeeds have almost certainly hit viewers the hardest.
The abuse plot has also been running for nearly eight months with absolutely no catharsis or sign of salvation for Todd. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite, with Theo’s abuse becoming increasingly vicious as he ensures that Todd is completely decimated and under his control.
What are Corrie viewers saying about Theo?
The comment section showed that Theo wasn’t the only subject of fans ire (Picture: Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock)
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In the comment section, it became incredibly apparent that while Theo is currently Coronation Street’s least favourite villain, fans are ready for a break from the deluge of baddies.
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‘This is a bad time for the street, need to get rid of these poor characters and start writing realistic storylines, soap operas shouldn’t be Hollywood style blockbusters, they’re supposed to be ordinary stories about ordinary people,’ said Alan Ashburn, echoing sentiments recently shared by Corrie legend, Sally Ann Matthews, who played Jenny Connor on-and-off between 1986 and 2025.
Wendy Brazier (with a clever pun on the article title) said: ‘Running and ruining the cobbles…’, while Yvonne Thornton pulled no punches: ‘Time they all did one.’
Janna Dawson pleaded for some light to return to the Street: ‘Too many dark souks…let’s lighten the street please’, with Lorraine Rowley echoing her sentiment: ‘They all need gone, the story lines are too dark…get Debbie out of prison, lets have some laughter back, she is a ray of sunshine’.
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Nicola Jayne Dickinson agreed: ‘When is it going to become nice and cheerful and funny again?’
Jean de Tourtoulon said: ‘Ruining the cobbles it’s been appalling for years , we loved the funny one liners, now we just get ridiculous dragged out storylines which make no real sense,’
While Patrick Moore added: ‘Get rid of all of them – the constant turnaround of villains is beyond ridiculous. Start concentrating on the regular characters again; you know it’s overkill when you have like 5 big baddies and you even add another one.’
It’s evident that fans are hungry for less baddies and more light-hearted comedy. With one of the five due to meet their maker, will that go some way to address the balance?
The death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), on February 22 was immediately framed as the fall of a narco kingpin. Images of gun battles, torched vehicles and retaliatory violence dominated headlines. Commentators spoke of a power vacuum, of fragmentation, of the possible weakening of one of Mexico’s biggest cartels.
It was presented as the removal of a singular, hyper-violent male figure at the apex of a criminal empire. But this framing tells us more about how we imagine organised crime than about how it actually works.
The obsession with kingpins rests on a dramatic understanding of cartel power: a gun in one hand, territory in the other, masculinity performed through brutality. El Mencho embodied that image.
Yet cartels are not sustained by spectacle alone. They endure because someone moves the money, launders the profits, manages the assets, cultivates legitimate fronts and binds networks of loyalty through family. In the case of CJNG, that figure was not only El Mencho. It was also, allegedly, his wife Rosalinda González Valencia.
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González has often been described as “La Jefa” (the Spanish feminine form of “the boss”). It’s a label that gestures toward authority while still situating her in relation to her husband. But she was not simply the spouse of a drug lord. She came from the Valencia family, historically linked to Los Cuinis, a network deeply embedded in CJNG’s financial operations.
Authorities have alleged that she oversaw dozens of businesses, property holdings and shell companies tied to the cartel’s laundering apparatus. Arrested multiple times and jailed for five year for money laundering in 2021 (she was released last year for good behaviour), she occupied the grey zone where criminal capital bleeds into the legal economy. If El Mencho represented the cartel’s violent face, González represented its economic spine.
This is where gender matters. Organised crime is routinely portrayed as an arena of exaggerated masculinity. Women appear in these stories as victims, girlfriends, trafficked bodies or glamorous accessories.
Even when they are prosecuted, they are often framed as appendages: “the wife of”, “the daughter of”, “the partner of”. Such language, while often difficult to avoid, obscures the structural reality that many cartels operate through kinship capitalism, where family is not sentimental but strategic.
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Within these systems, wives are not incidental. They help keep the business secrets in environments where betrayal is fatal. In patriarchal criminal orders, loyalty is policed through blood ties.
A spouse managing accounts is not a deviation from power but an extension of it. Gender does not exclude women from authority, but rather reshapes how that authority is exercised and perceived.
The sensational truth is this: violence may conquer territory, but finance governs it. And, as the International Crisis Group – a western non-government organisation which aims to prevent conflict – spelled out in a 2023 report, finance in many cartels is deeply gendered.
This does not mean romanticising women’s roles within organised crime. Nor does it suggest emancipation through criminality.
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The power reportedly exercised by figures like González tends to be situated within male-dominated hierarchies and violent systems that are also responsible for extreme forms of violence against women, including femicide and sexual exploitation. The same structures that allow elite women to wield financial authority simultaneously reproduce brutal patriarchal control elsewhere. That contradiction is not accidental – it is the way things work.
El Mencho’s death exposes that contradiction. When the state removes a male leader, the assumption is that the organisation will collapse or descend into chaos. But cartels are not merely built around a single dominant figure. They are hybrid enterprises combining coercion, corporate structures and family governance. The removal of the public face does not automatically dismantle the private architecture.
Hidden power structure
The question, then, is not simply who will pick up the gun, but who keeps the books. Who maintains the corporate fronts? Who sustains cross-border financial channels? Who negotiates the transformation of illicit profits into legitimate capital? These are not secondary concerns. They determine whether an organisation fragments or adapts to a leader’s death or imprisonment.
By centring El Mencho alone, media narratives are perpetuating a blindness to the role of women in cartels. They equate power with violence and masculinity with control, leaving the economic and relational dimensions of authority under-analysed.
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Yet organised crime studies increasingly demonstrate that durability lies in governance, not gunfire. Governance depends on management, financial oversight, logistical coordination, and embedded social networks. These functions are often feminised – not because women are naturally suited to them, but because patriarchal systems allocate them in ways that render them less conspicuous and therefore less targeted.
Nemesio K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)
There is something unsettling about recognising the strategic authority of cartel wives. It complicates comfortable binaries of victim and perpetrator. It challenges the idea that women in violent systems are either coerced or just marginal figures.
But in Italy, Rafaella D’Alterio reportedly maintained the operational and financial coherence of her Camorra clan following her husband’s death. She did this – not through spectacular violence – but through administrative control, alliance-building, and family networks. Her case, as many others, underscores that durability often lies in governance rather than gunfire.
Decapitation strategies – killing a cartel’s leader – are politically dramatic and symbolically powerful. But they rest on the assumption that criminal organisations are vertically dependent on a single male. If financial governance and kinship networks remain intact, the system may regenerate.
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El Mencho’s death is therefore both a rupture and a revelation. It is a rupture in the sense that the figurehead of one of the world’s most powerful cartels has fallen. But it is also a revelation of how narrow our understanding of organised crime remains.
We fixate on the spectacle of masculine violence while overlooking the quieter, gendered infrastructures that sustain it. To understand cartels solely through their kingpins is to misunderstand them. Power in organised crime does not reside only in the man with the gun, but also in the women who, whether publicly acknowledged or not, often stand at the centre of that architecture.
The Gunners finished top of the table in the league phase, winning all eight fixtures, scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest of all 32 teams.
A top-two finish was then made official after a 3-1 victory in the San Siro, meaning Arsenal are now assured of hosting the second legs in all of their knockout matches.
Furthermore, finishing in the top eight in the current format – which came into play last season – ensured Mikel Arteta’s side progressed straight through to the last 16 and avoided a two-legged knockout play-off tie.
Who Arsenal will face in Champions League last 16
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Arsenal’s progression straight through to the last 16 means they were able to avoid fixture congestion in February, though their re-arranged Premier League fixture against Wolves did not go to plan.
The first leg of the last 16 will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixture a week later.
As a result of finishing first in the league phase, Arsenal knew they would face one of the winners of the play-off ties involving the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th seeds.
With the knockout phase play-offs reaching their conclusion on Wednesday night, Arsenal’s potential opponents for the last 16 were narrowed down from four to two.
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The Gunners knew they would face either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen, with the latter confirmed as their next assignment at Friday’s draw.
Leverkusen played out a goalless draw at home to Olympiacos on Tuesday night to reach the round of 16 for the second season in a row, having won 2-0 in Piraeus the week before thanks to Patrik Schick’s quick-fire second-half double.
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer, 34, overturned a large Labour majority to become the new MP for Gorton and Denton last night.
She came ahead of second place Reform UK candidate Matthew Goodwin and Labour’s Angeliki Stogia in third.
Following Ms Spencer’s victory speech, the Bolton Green Party’s Cllr Hanif Alli said: “An iconic and historic speech that will lay the foundations for many generations to come and a new political reset in Britain!
“What a legend.”
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Hannah Spencer celebrating with Green Party leader Zack Polanski (Image: Peter Byrne/PA)
Ms Spencer, a plumber and councillor in Trafford who previously stood as Green Party candidate in the Greater Manchester Mayoral election, won 14,980 votes.
Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin got 10,578 votes, with Labour’s Angeliki Stogia trailing on 9,364, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election.
Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden, a governor of Rumworth School in Ladybridge, received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats’ Jackie Pearcey getting 653.
In her victory speech, Ms Spencer said people were being “bled dry” and were “sick of our hard work making other people rich”.
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She said: “I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.”
Ms Spencer jokingly apologised to customers who had made appointments for plumbing jobs.
She said: “I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I’m heading to Parliament.”
Second placed Reform UK candidate Mr Goodwin said: “I think the progressives were told how to vote, and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency.
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“And many people in this country will look at Gorton and Denton and be appalled by what they see.”
He also said Reform had “embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats”.
The by-election was called after serving Labour MP Andrew Gwynne announced he was standing down citing “health reasons”.
Mr Gwynne had previously been embroiled in a row over a WhatsApp chat where he appeared to joke that he hoped an elderly constituent would die, among other offensive messages.
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Labour candidate Ms Stogia had been selected after Andy Burnham was controversially blocked from standing as Labour’s candidate by the party’s national executive committee.
It is understood that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended the meeting where Mr Burnham was blocked via video link.
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said the result was “clearly disappointing”.
She said: “By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different.”
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She added that “the politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform” would not tackle the cost-of-living crisis, create opportunities for young people.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party.
“In losing one of Labour’s safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader.”
