Landlord, developer and TV presenter Sian Astley has been picked as Reform UK’s candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.

Astley, who runs a design and property business in Fallowfield, was elected as the party’s councillor for Baguley, Wythenshawe, in May and is also the party’s leader on Manchester City Council. She featured on BBC One’s DIY SOS and the BBC Two series Your Home Made Perfect before going into politics.

Although Reform UK hasn’t published a housing manifesto for Greater Manchester, Astley pledged to utilise her credentials as a creator in the property sector if elected. “I am not a wrecking ball – I’m a creator…I’m a builder. I make things and I make things better – and that’s what I’ve spent 30 years doing.”

Astley has promised to place towns and areas across the city region “front and centre” if she becomes Greater Manchester mayor, adding that over the years, there has been a decline in towns and areas across the region, with high streets left unattended, unfunded and unloved.

Pledged

She has also pledged to scrutinise contracts previously awarded by Andy Burnham to firms during his time as mayor.

A Labour voter in the past, Astley believes that “the vice-like grip that Labour has held over Manchester has been evident for decades”. She adds: “I propose opening up the files on the grooming gangs, on the GMCA luxury apartment loans, on the ULEZ waste (after Burnham axed a ‘clean-air zone’ project in Manchester), on the alleged Aviva overspend, and on the social homes allocations and deals.”

Labour’s candidate and Manchester City Council leader, Bev Craig, has been closely involved in planning, regeneration and affordable housing and is expected to campaign on continuing Burnham’s housing agenda.

The by-election on 30th July was called after Burnham was elected as MP for Makerfield. A new supplementary voting system will be in place whereby voters get to have a first and second choice.

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