MOR
What possible reason could there be for not pulling forward to the holding point (in general terms, not this specific case)?
Well I, for one, rarely pull right up to the CAT1 holds for 27L at CDG, as having my hair parted by the wingtip of a landing big jet is even less appealing than having my tail removed by a taxiing aircraft.
At many airfields, aircraft are expected to hold in a "block", which has a single yellow line to signify the rear of the block. Holding in the block ensures your clearance. I don't know if Manchester uses these, but if not, they should.
Didn't ICAO get rid of blocks in favour of the system of holding points we now use?
I don't want to comment on this accident before the AAIB conclude their investigation. However I will say that if I taxi my jet into a stationary object, I will not be feeling too fireproof.