Bury South MP Ivan Lewis has revealed that he is considering standing to be the Labour candidate in the 2017 Greater Manchester Mayor election.
The directly-elected role is part of a wider devolution scheme to regions and cities, and 2017 will be the first election for the position. Other potential Labour candidates are Sir Richard Leese, who been leader of Manchester Council since 1996, and Tony Lloyd, the former MP, current Police and Crime Commissioner and interim Mayor. Jim McMahon, the Oldham Council leader who faces selection for the Oldham West by-election tonight, has also been suggested as a possibility.
Lewis confirmed his interest in standing in a statement on Facebook last night. He wrote:
The historic and long overdue devolution of power and resources from London to Greater Manchester offers a wonderful opportunity to build on our conurbations tremendous successes over the past two decades. I believe my substantive experience in national and local Government and public service commitment over a twenty five year period to the area where I have lived all my life means I could offer a lot to the role of elected Mayor.
Lewis was elected as MP in 1997, and spent nine years on Labour’s frontbench, including five in the Shadow Cabinet, before losing his place in Jeremy Corbyn’s reshuffle in September.
Genuinely touched by the many kind messages of support following my announcement I am considering standing to be Elected Mayor of Gtr Mcr.
— Ivan Lewis (@IvanLewis67) November 5, 2015
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