Reform has announced its leader on Manchester City Council Sian Astley as the party’s candidate for the Manchester mayoral election. An uphill battle…
The party said: “She currently lives in Fallowfield where she runs a design and property business. She is also a respected businesswoman and has appeared regularly on television and in print as an expert on the property and renovation industry as well as landlord-related issues… She has pledged to scrutinise contracts previous Mayor Andy Burnham awarded to firms during his time as Mayor.”
Astley was elected in May as councillor for Baguley, Wythenshawe, a longtime Labour seat. She said:
“I am delighted to be chosen as Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor Greater Manchester – I am determined to improve communities and the lives of working people.
Over the years, we have all seen our towns and areas across Greater Manchester decline, with high streets left unattended, unfunded and unloved. They need to be placed front and centre again.
One of my first acts as Mayor will be to open up the books on contracts Andy Burnham awarded during his time as Labour’s Mayor, at least one of which was to a company which made substantial donations to his Mayoral campaign.
Politics needs real people with real life experience. People like me.”
Labour’s changes to the voting system give them an edge in Manchester…
Badenoch said at her speech on Monday morning: “We are absolutely ready to fight a general election. We say the results in Aberdeen South: 50% of the vote. Because we can unite the country… It’s about uniting the country, for God’s sake, behind a centre-right agenda.”