The Conservative Party's candidate in the mayoral election is no longer a member of the party after leaving it for Reform UK.

Dan Barker, from Sale, was announced as the Conservative Party's challenger to the Labour Party's Andy Burnham last year.

Recently, Reform UK received its first MP in the form of ex-Tory MP Lee Anderson, who lost the whip after comments claiming Islamists are in control of the capital and its mayor, Sadiq Khan, over the course of an interview on GB News.

Messenger Newspapers: Dan Barker

Now the party has its candidate in the mayoral election when residents across Greater Manchester go to the polls on May 2.

In a post on social media, Mr Barker said: [I am] delighted to be joining the new home of conservatism with Reform UK. Reform UK represent the ordinary people of this country."

A post on social media by Reform UK said: "Conservative Mayoral Candidate Defects to Reform UK. Welcome, Dan Barker!"

A Conservative Party spokesperson said its candidate will be announced "in due course" but they will be in for a battle as Mr Burnham is the only one in the role since its creation more than six years ago. 

Mr Burnham won the first election with a little less than two thirds of the vote and the second election with a little more than two thirds of the vote and no borough backed anyone else on either occasion.

The Conservative Party spokesperson said: "We will be selecting our new mayoral candidate in due course.

"We have to be realistic about our prospects in heavily Labour voting areas and allocate resources accordingly."

The other candidates to be announced up until now are Lib Dem candidate Jake Austin and independent candidate Nick Buckley.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.