A NEW candidate has entered the race for Greater Manchester Mayor.
Restore Britain has selected Marlon West to stand in the by-election, following the disqualification of Andy Burnham after his election as MP for Makerfield.
Mr West is a prominent campaigner against child sexual exploitation and spent more than two years pressing the Government to launch a national grooming gang inquiry.
He has met with senior politicians, including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, during his campaigning.
Rupert Lowe MP, leader of Restore Britain, said: "Marlon West spent years fighting for victims that politicians like Andy Burnham chose to ignore.
"He knows this city and he knows 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."
Mr West and his daughter Scarlett co-authored the book In Plain Sight, which documents the failures that allowed abuse to happen.
Scarlett, who is a grooming gang survivor, later presented the Sky News documentary Prey: Inside Today's Grooming Gangs, which aired in December 2025.
Mr West also played a key role in Rupert Lowe's independent Rape Gang Inquiry, which released its findings this month.
Mr West, who was born and raised in Greater Manchester, has worked in the NHS across the region for more than 30 years.
He said: "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.
"I am standing because this city deserves better and I know exactly what that looks like."
The by-election will take place on July 30.
Voters will use the Supplementary Vote system, which was reintroduced on June 18, 2026.
Share