SHE was steadfast in the bear pit of a council chamber in the 90s and the early noughties. When anger at the Tories was at its peak in Salford she was a prime target.
In 1994 she had to step down as a councillor after the estate agent business she ran with her husband went bust and she was declared bankrupt.
But her stoic nature meant in 2000, at the third attempt, she was re-elected to the council. Karen Garrido is Conservative royalty in the city and at the height of her influence was the leader of a Tory group of 13 councillors in 2007.
The lounge of her home on The Green in Worsley appears to confirm her status and devotion to the cause - a small pottery bust of Harold MacMillan, prime minister from 1957 to 1963 sits on a mantlepiece.
The presence of Macmillan in her lounge is significant. He dedicated his political career to humanising the Conservative Party. After his election victory in 1959, he said: "The class war is obsolete." Under his leadership the hard-faced Conservatism of the pre-war years became obsolete-only to make a return in the 70s.
Karen is as frank as ever when speaking at her home after announcing she will step down in May after 32 years as a councillor.
"They ruined my party," she says of the right-wing element of the current Tory regime, adding "The sooner they go the better. It might take a big bang but the right wing don't do anybody any good." She aligns herself with the strain of Toryism which made Edward Heath and David Cameron prime minister.
She is a moderate. When Cameron addressed business leaders at a conference at Manchester Airport he wanted her at his table, he wanted a briefing from her as to what the state of play was in Salford and Manchester and what was needed.
There are no Tory councillors in Manchester. Yet under Garrido, Salford Tory councillors miraculously flourished after also becoming extinct briefly in the city.
Bu hikaye MEN on Sunday dergisinin April 07, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye MEN on Sunday dergisinin April 07, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Ineos 'always tell me' they want me to stay on, claims boss
ERIK ten Hag claimed Ineos bosses have told him more than once that they want him to remain as Manchester United manager despite overseeing an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
'This is what I do'-Erik comes out fighting
ERIK ten Hag came out fighting after steering Manchester United to an FA Cup final victory and told his Ineos bosses that if they don't want him he will go and win trophies with another club.
It's Double trouble as City fall at final hurdle
Lacklustre Blues fail in bid for history
Fans silenced as City get it wrong with gameplan against United
IT'S normally towards the end of a game, with an insurmountable lead, before the Poznan comes out among City fans. It happened before kick-off against United, such was the confidence among the Blues contingent at Wembley.
Salford sign up for a Marsters class in 2025!
SALFORD have boosted their squad for next season by signing Esan Marsters from Huddersfield Giants.
Davies century puts Lancs on back foot
AN unbeaten century from Warwickshire skipper Alex Davies helped his side reach 284 all out and a first innings lead of 218 against Lancashire on the second day of this Vitality County Championship Division One game at Emirates Old Trafford.
Mayors seek added strength with pact
AT the huge UKREiiF property conference at Leeds's Royal Armouries, the sunscreen was traded in for umbrellas on Wednesday as delegates tried to stay out of a day-long deluge.
Shoplifting mum found dead days after being jailed
Inquest hears how failure to provide care' directly contributed to death
'Where is housing for people like me?'
Exasperation at lack of progress on homelessness
'Historic gem' goes up for sale
Manchester's oldest building on the market with potential as pub, hotel or restaurant