DIY SOS star announced as Reform candidate for Manchester mayoral race
Former DIY SOS star Sian Astley, 55, has been announced as the Reform UK candidate vying to take over from Andy Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester. The Labour MP recently returned to the House of Commons when he was elected as MP for Makerfield in the explosive by-elections. Alongside the popular BBC makeover show, Astley has also appeared on Getting the Builders In, and worked behind the scenes as a project manager in the first two series of BBC Two's Your Home Made Perfect. She hosted her own Channel 5 show in 2012 called Half Built Home.
The TV star-turned-politician, who lives in Fallowfield where she runs a design and property business, is currently the leader of the Reform UK group on Manchester City Council. She was elected as the council party leader on May 1 as a councillor for Baguley, in Wythenshawe.
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She had a healthy 423-vote majority over Labour’s Paul Andrews for the seat, which had been held by Labour for 50 years. Speaking of her nomination, 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. Politics needs real people with real-life experience. People like me."
Whoever wins will become only the second mayor of the area after Burnham won the first mayoral election in 2017 and secured two further terms in office. People living in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester will go to the polls to elect their successor on July 30.
To date, alongside Astley, another five candidates for the role have been announced. Geraldine Coggins has been put forward for the Green Party. Meanwhile, Phil Eckersley will represent the Conservatives. Richard Kilpatrick has won the nomination for the Liberal Democrats, while Marlon West is on the ballot for Restore Britain.
Meanwhile, Bev Craig, who is currently the leader of Manchester City Council and the councillor for Burnage, will be hoping to keep the role in the Labour camp.