Reform UK has announced a former star of BBC property shows as its candidate to replace Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Sian Astley, whose first name is pronounced 'cyan', has appeared on BBC's DIY SOS and Getting the Builders In, and worked as a project manager on the first two series of Your Home Made Perfect. In 2012, she hosted her own Channel 5 show called Half Built Home.
From TV to politics
Astley was elected to Manchester City Council on May 1, taking a seat that Labour had held for 50 years. She now leads the local authority's Reform UK group. In the mayoral race, she will face Labour candidate Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, as well as Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party, Phil Eckersley for the Conservatives, Richard Kilpatrick for the Lib Dems, and Marlon West for Restore. Other candidates may be announced later.
Promises and controversies
Astley said one of her first acts would be to 'open up the books on contracts Andy Burnham awarded during his time as Labour's Mayor', including 'at least one' given to a company that made substantial donations to his mayoral campaign. This appears to refer to a Times story about contracts awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to a media company that donated to Burnham's 2021 campaign. The GMCA said it has 'rigorous procurement processes in place to ensure transparency and fairness' and that Burnham was not involved in the decisions.
Reform UK's recent record
Reform UK will hope to reverse its poor recent by-election record, having lost to the Green Party in Gorton and Denton, to Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly, and to Labour in Makerfield. Astley may face an additional challenge from the voting system, which uses the 'supplementary vote' giving people a first and second choice. The by-election, triggered by Andy Burnham winning in Makerfield, will take place on July 30.
