With the so-called ‘King of the North’ vacating his mayoral throne for Downing Street, the race to find his replacement is beginning to warm up. Reform may have suffered a fairly bruising blow in Makerfield, but Nigel Farage is not yet ready to retreat from the north-west. Today he unveiled the party’s candidate for the Manchester mayoralty: Sian Astley.
A graduate of Manchester University, Astley runs a design and property business in Fallowfield, where she lives. A regular telly pundit, she offers her expertise on renovations, interior design, project management and landlord issues. She is also Reform leader on Manchester City Council, having taken her seat from Labour – which had held it for 50 years.
As things stand, Astley has not yet been caught out having previously commented on ‘sniffing bumholes’ or questioning the capability of women. Two thumbs up.
There is still all to play for in the mayoral race, with polling suggesting Reform and Labour’s non-binary candidate Bev Craig are neck and neck. The Greens, meanwhile, are set to siphon off Labour votes, potentially balancing out the threat Reform faces from Restore and the Tories. A crowded field, then – and a rather nervous one for Labour.
Astley 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.
Politics needs real people with real life experience. People like me.
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