Restore Britain has announced Marlon West as its candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, scheduled for July 30. The election was triggered by Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election, which vacated the mayoral position.
Candidate Background and Platform
West, a lifelong resident of Greater Manchester with over 30 years of experience working in the NHS across the region, is running on a platform focused on attracting genuine business investment, cutting wasteful public spending, protecting greenfield land from development, and overhauling a transport network he says has 'failed commuters for years'.
He has been a prominent campaigner against Child Sexual Exploitation, spending more than two years pressuring the government to establish a national grooming gang inquiry, according to Restore Britain. West has also collaborated with party leader Rupert Lowe on the independent Rape Gang Inquiry, described as the most comprehensive independent examination of grooming gang abuse ever conducted in Britain.
Party and Political Context
This is the first time Restore Britain has fielded a candidate for mayor of the region. The right-wing party was founded in 2025 by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe. Labour is expected to defend the mayoralty, while Reform UK poses a significant challenge after winning dozens of council seats across Greater Manchester in May's local elections. The Greens have already announced Geraldine Coggins as their candidate.
Quotes from West and Lowe
West stated: 'I have lived and worked in this city for my entire life. I have seen what good public services look like and I have seen what happens when institutions fail the people they are supposed to protect. Andy Burnham ran those institutions for a decade while children were being abused on his watch. Greater Manchester deserves a mayor who understands this city, fights for its people, and is not afraid to hold power to account.'
Rupert Lowe MP said: 'Marlon West spent years fighting for victims that politicians like Andy Burnham chose to ignore. He knows this city and its people. Greater Manchester deserves better leadership than it has had. Marlon has already proved he fights for this city when it matters. Now he wants to run it.'
Labour's Response
Labour described the contest as a 'two-horse race' between itself and Reform UK. A Labour source said: 'Labour in power in Greater Manchester has seen real improvements for people's everyday lives. From buses back in public control with capped fares, to thousands more homes and additional infrastructure built – all of this progress could be put at risk with Reform. The Greens can't win this race. It's time to pass the torch from Andy Burnham, who has delivered for the area, to the next transformational Labour mayor.'
Manchester council leader Bev Craig is considered the favourite for the Labour nomination, while Salford mayor Paul Dennett is understood not to be putting himself forward. The M.E.N. understands allies close to Burnham fear Labour could lose the mayoralty if Sir Keir Starmer does not set out a timeline for his departure before the by-election.
