Tory Manchester mayoral candidate defects to Reform UK

Dan Barker, selected to stand just three months ago, says he’s delighted to join the new home of conservatism

The Conservative candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral election has defected to Richard Tice’s rightwing Reform UK party.

Dan Barker was selected only three months ago as the Tory candidate to challenge the incumbent mayor, Labour’s Andy Burnham, in May’s elections.