Reform UK mayoral candidate Sian Astley claimed Andy Burnham had not built a single social home during his nine years as mayor of Greater Manchester – but government data tells a different story.
Figures show 2,368 homes for social rent were completed across Greater Manchester between 2017/18 and 2024/25, including 611 last year – the highest annual total since 2011/12.
After The Independent contacted Reform UK, the party said Ms Astley had “mis-spoken”, clarifying that her point was that social housing had "not been the priority" for Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, rather than that no social homes had been built.
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