Reform’s Manchester mayoral candidate Sian Astley has been in the limelight, locally at least, for more than 20 years as a landlord, interior designer and occasional TV star – and isn’t shy about sharing her opinion.
In one of her earliest appearances on screen as a wannabe property developer on Channel 4’s Property Ladder in 2002, Astley clashed with expert host Sarah Beeny over almost every decision she faced when doing up a home in Chorlton, south Manchester.
Both women did their best to remain polite through gritted teeth in an episode which became dubbed ‘the battle of the blondes’ at the time.
Astley felt she was ultimately proved right as she managed to sell the house for a £61,000 profit.
But the idea her judgement had been questioned clearly rankled.
Astley, who has also fronted episodes of Channel 5’s Half Built House and appeared on the BBC’s DIY SOS, later used the Mumsnet forum to hit out at “negative mums” who had criticised her appearance on the show, asking “Who’s laughing now, eh?!”
Two decades later, Astley, 56, now owns a portfolio of 17 properties in Manchester and believes she can bring her ‘real world’ experience to one of the country’s most important political jobs outside London.
Reform candidate Sian Astley (left) appearing in an episode of Channel 4’s ‘Property Ladder’ in 2002 (Photo: YouTube)It is also an opportunity for Reform to give Andy Burnham an immediate headache just as he seeks to build fresh momentum for Labour in government.
Voters in Greater Manchester go to the polls on 30 July, less than two weeks after Burnham is expected to be declared Prime Minister on 17 July.
Chairman Lee Anderson believes his party has a “cracking candidate”, arguing her experience as a landlord means she “knows all about housing issues”, while her TV background makes her “an excellent media performer”.
But after losing three by-elections in a row, the pressure is on Nigel Farage’s party at a time of increasing uncertainty over the leader’s future amid fresh allegations about his personal finances.
Labour’s candidate Bev Craig with former Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)The race to replace Andy Burnham is expected to be tight – one poll has Reform in second place on 30 per cent behind Labour on 33 per cent and the Green party on 12.5 per cent.
Astley is the most inexperienced politician – having only been elected as a councillor for Manchester’s Baguley ward in May.
Her Labour rival Bev Craig has been leader of Manchester city council for five years, while the Green’s candidate Geraldine Coggins has been a councillor in Trafford since 2018.
While all three frontrunners are women, they represent three very different offers to the public.
In an interview with The i Paper, Craig talked up her close relationship with Burnham as a “golden opportunity” for Greater Manchester to make the most of having its former mayor in Downing Street.
Burnham has already made clear that devolving further powers to local authorities will be a key feature of his premiership.
“I think it’s a win-win for Greater Manchester,” said Craig.
“Andy was incredibly popular and leaves a legacy behind that I want to build on, but I want to take it further, and one of the things that Andy and I always used to talk about was that we couldn’t get the power and control that we needed from Westminster into our hands.
“I’ve got the commitment from Andy that Greater Manchester will be the place that goes further and faster, and we get to be the first.”
Hence then, the article about the tv presenter who could land reform s first blow to burnham as pm was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The TV presenter who could land Reform’s first blow to Burnham as PM )
Also on site :