An ex-Trafford councillor is the Conservative Party's new candidate for the mayoral election after the old candidate left for Reform UK.

Dan Barker, from Sale, announced he was leaving for the political party born out of the Brexit Party with a surprise statement this week.

Mr Barker said his defection was due to a lack of support from the central party which he accused of abandoning the North of England. The central party said it had to prioritise its resources.

He told the BBC: "I think, in truth, they've given up on Greater Manchester and the North of England. 

"You can see it from inside the party, what they are doing is to protect the blue wall in the South East and the South West because they fear the Liberal Democrats are going to annihilate them."

A matter of hours after the announcement Laura Evans, an ex-Trafford councillor of eight years, announced she was the Conservative Party's new candidate for the mayoral election. Ms Evans, whose husband Nathan Evans is the leader of the opposition at the town hall to this day, came second to the Andy Burnham when she contested the mayoral election three years ago.

The ex-cabinet member received around 20 per cent of the vote in a poll which was put off by a year as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

In a post on social media Tory Party chairman Richard Holden said he would come to the region this weekend to kickstart the campaign.

Mr Holden said: "I am looking forward to campaigning this weekend with @LauraEvansTeam our @Conservatives candidate for the Mayor of Greater Manchester."

Aside from Mr Burnham, Mr Barker and Mrs Evans the other candidates up until now are Lib Dem candidate Jake Austin, Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer and independent candidate Nick Buckley.

The polls open on May 2 on the same day as the local elections.

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