'Our city is open for trade'

Photo: Darren Robinson

CANDIDATE: Councillor Sean Anstee

THE Conservative Greater Manchester mayoral candidate pledged to ensure the region is open for business on the global stage as he launched his manifesto.

Trafford Council leader Councillor Sean Anstee took Communities and Local Government Minister Sajid Javid to the Bury Black Pudding Company, who sell products globally.

The inaugural Greater Manchester mayoral election will be held on May 4.

Last Wednesday saw Labour candidate Andy Burnham launch his manifesto at The Sharp Project in Manchester.

Councillor Anstee is the region's youngest, and only Tory, council leader. He grew up in a council house in Partington, Trafford, before leaving school at 16 to pursue an apprenticeship. He worked his way up to become vice-president at Bank of New York Mellon in Manchester in 2009.

He is openly gay and has been in a civil partnership with his partner Thom for four years.

In his manifesto, his pledges include:

* To make sure Greater Manchester has the schools, health facilities and transport to support growth for the region;

* Establish a housing fund to kick-start home building on brownfield land, and protect the green belt from unnecessary development;

* Introduce smart ticketing and bring buses under the mayor's control;

* Make Greater Manchester a cycle-friendly city and double the number charging points for electric cars;

* Make sure children are ready to start education and young people are ready to start employment with a Year of Service;

* Be a Living Wage champion and work with the Women's Equality Party to commission an employment Charter for Greater Manchester;

* Use the Apprenticeship Levy to fill skills gaps in social care and establish a region-wide pool of social work staff to reduce agency costs.

Despite being the only Conservative council leader in a predominantly Labour-run region, Councillor Anstee is confident of his chances of winning.

He said: "Many people felt that the Labour Party represented them. They don't feel that's the case anymore.

"This mayoral election is about doing something very different. People don't want somebody who has a lot of Westminster experience because that isn't relevant to the people of Greater Manchester.

"Politicians who are local are able to make smarter decisions. For four years in Oldham I've worked with prospective leaders in the council, across parties and geographical boundaries.

"The Bury Black Pudding Company was the ideal place to launch the manifesto. They are the perfect example of a local company, passionate about their local roots, who have grown and now promote their product on the world stage.

"I want the same for Greater Manchester. We should be shouting about the great things we have here, saying to the world, look what we have to offer, Greater Manchester is open for business.

"I'm from here and for here. This is my home and I want everybody in Greater Manchester to have opportunities to realise their potential so nobody is held back, and nobody is left behind. We are a city that is on the verge of something special if we choose to take the opportunity.

"It's not just about spreading wealth, it's about helping those parts of Greater Manchester to increase their own wealth.

"I have a track record in Trafford, a long history of being pro growth and pro business. I want to spread that to the northern parts of Greater Manchester.

Sajid Javid, who is MP for Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, believes having a Conservative mayor working alongside a Conservative government will send a strong message to the world.

He said: "Devolution is an unprecedented set of powers being sent down to the region. It will really transform the area and make it more prosperous.

"What that requires is strong leadership. Sean is someone who understands the issues here. He is a local man, a local councillor.

"He is a man with a track record of delivering and getting things done."

He added: "I went on the first Northern Powerhouse trade mission to China as business secretary. The whole world knows Manchester.

"Although Manchester is great we need to help some businesses get on the international stage.

"We really need someone who can be a trade ambassador on the world stage, and that's Sean."