This public debate took place on Tuesday 13 April 2010 between 6 and 9 pm at the Friends’ Meeting House in Central Manchester. The thinking behind its organisation was simple: the combination of global post-recession debates about the futures of cities coupled with the forthcoming UK national election presented an excellent opportunity to think about the kind of futures residents of this city region would like to see. Over three hours 90 plus people listened to speakers, debating and discussing what they had to say. A range of public, private and third sector members, activists, and others outlined their concerns around the core themes of the economy, the environment, housing and transport. As one might expect, there was both agreement and disagreement over the many issues facing the city region. There was one issue that all agreed on however. A view that these sorts of events are extremely useful in providing a space for public debate united the room. It is to be hoped that it will mark the beginning of a series of similar events in which the issues facing the city region of Manchester can be discussed involving a variety of different publics.