Restore Britain's candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, Marlon West, has pledged to convene women's safety summits in every borough of the city-region if he is elected on July 30. The party stated that 'nothing will be off the table' at these meetings, which aim to give local women a direct voice on their own safety.
Background to the By-Election
The by-election follows the resignation of Andy Burnham, who was sworn in as MP for Makerfield on June 18 after winning a by-election. Burnham is widely tipped as a potential successor to Keir Starmer, who resigned as Labour leader on June 22. Three candidates have so far declared: Labour's Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council since 2021; Green Party candidate Geraldine Coggins; and Restore Britain's Marlon West. Reform UK, which achieved sweeping local election successes in May, has not yet named a candidate; its application deadline closed on June 24.
West's Background and Pledge
According to Restore Britain, West has worked in the NHS in Greater Manchester for 30 years and has been a vocal campaigner on child sexual exploitation alongside his daughter Scarlett, a survivor of grooming gang abuse in Rochdale. In a press release, West said: 'I have spent years fighting for women and girls who were told their voices did not matter. As Mayor, I will make sure that never happens again. These summits will give women in every borough of Greater Manchester a direct voice on their own safety, and nothing will be off the table.'
Summit Details and Controversy
The party specified that the summits would bring together local women with their police force, allowing them to speak directly and honestly about women's safety. 'No topic would be off-limits, including the presence of foreign men who are making women feel incredibly uncomfortable in their own town centres,' the party said. The pledge builds on the June 2026 Rape Gang Inquiry report, which documented decades of institutional failure to listen to women and girls in Greater Manchester and across the country. Party leader Rupert Lowe MP commented: 'Marlon West has dedicated his life to fighting for women and girls who were failed by the institutions that should have protected them. These summits will make sure the women of Greater Manchester are heard, not managed.'
