Who is Sian Astley? The businesswoman hoping to reshape Greater Manchester politics

Until recently, Sian Astley was better known for property development and television appearances than frontline politics. Today, the Reform UK councillor is one of the party's most recognisable figures in Greater Manchester, having been selected to contest the mayoral by-election following Andy Burnham's departure from the role.

Astley's political rise has been rapid. Earlier this year she won the Baguley ward on Manchester City Council, ending more than half a century of Labour representation in the area. She now leads Reform UK's group on the council, giving the party a significantly higher profile in one of Labour's traditional strongholds.

Away from politics, Astley runs a design and property business and has appeared on national television discussing housing, renovation and landlord issues. A graduate of the University of Manchester, she has frequently argued that politics benefits from representatives with experience outside Westminster and local government. Speaking after her selection, she said she wanted 'real people with real life experience' making decisions that affect local communities.

Her campaign centred on a message that Greater Manchester has become too heavily dominated by a single political party. Astley argued that decades of Labour control across many parts of the city-region had reduced scrutiny and accountability, claiming residents deserved greater transparency over how public money is spent. Reform UK's campaign presented itself as offering robust opposition rather than continuity.

One of Astley's headline pledges was to review major contracts and spending decisions taken during Andy Burnham's time as mayor. She proposed examining combined authority spending on development projects, reviewing expenditure connected to the abandoned Clean Air Zone proposals and increasing public access to information about regional decision-making. Reform UK argued that taxpayers should have greater visibility over how devolved budgets are allocated.

Crime and community safety formed another central pillar of her campaign. Reform UK proposed increasing police visibility, taking a tougher approach to knife crime, expanding the use of stop-and-search powers, tackling shoplifting and antisocial behaviour, and prioritising neighbourhood policing. The party argued that public confidence in policing had declined and that stronger enforcement was needed to improve safety across Greater Manchester.

Transport policy also featured prominently. Astley criticised spending on what she described as underused cycling infrastructure and opposed introducing additional charges on motorists. She argued that investment should be distributed more evenly across Greater Manchester rather than concentrating predominantly on Manchester city centre, saying outer boroughs such as Rochdale, Bolton and Wigan deserved a larger share of future transport and regeneration funding.

Economic development was another recurring theme. Reform UK's manifesto called for greater support for high streets, road maintenance and local businesses, alongside efforts to reduce what the party described as unnecessary expenditure within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Astley argued that improving everyday infrastructure would deliver more visible benefits to residents than prestige projects concentrated in the regional centre.

Immigration also featured in Reform UK's regional campaign, although many aspects remain matters for national government rather than the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The party proposed greater transparency around asylum accommodation, opposition to the use of hotels for asylum seekers and stronger cooperation with councils on community impacts. Supporters argued these proposals reflected public concerns, while critics questioned how much influence a metro mayor could realistically exercise over national immigration policy.

Like every candidate in the contest, Astley also faced criticism during the campaign. Political opponents challenged the practicality of some of Reform UK's proposals, particularly where powers rest with Westminster rather than the combined authority. There was also discussion after Astley withdrew from one mayoral hustings organised by The Mill, with Astley stating she objected to the exclusion of independent candidate Marcus Farmer, while organisers maintained their own position on participation.

Whatever the election result, few would dispute that Astley has helped establish Reform UK as a more visible force in Greater Manchester politics. Her victory in Baguley demonstrated the party's ability to make gains in areas long considered Labour strongholds, and her mayoral campaign brought Reform's message before voters across all ten boroughs.

The longer-term question is whether that momentum can be sustained. Metro mayoral elections often provide smaller parties with greater exposure than they receive during local elections, but converting visibility into long-term electoral success is a more difficult task. Reform UK will likely judge Astley's campaign not solely by the final vote share but by whether it has expanded the party's organisation, profile and support across Greater Manchester.

As Greater Manchester enters a post-Burnham political era, Astley's campaign reflects wider changes taking place in British politics. Voters are increasingly presented with alternatives beyond the traditional two-party contest, while regional elections are becoming an important testing ground for emerging political movements. Whether Reform UK can translate growing national support into sustained regional influence remains to be seen, but Sian Astley's campaign has undoubtedly ensured the party is now part of that conversation.