Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham supports Labour council candidate in Lincoln

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has offered his support to a Labour candidate standing in the forthcoming Lincolnshire County Council elections.

Mr Burnham, who has chaired the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since May 2017, has thrown his backing behind former Mayor of Lincoln Rosanne Kirk in her bid to become county councillor for the St Giles division.

Voters will have the chance to elect their next county councillor when polls open at 7am on Thursday, May 1.

The former representative for St Giles, Coun Nicola Clarke (Con), resigned from the position in November last year due to ill health. A by-election was not required for the Lincoln seat as the vacancy occurred within six months of the scheduled local elections.

The full list of candidates standing in the division is as follows:

Victoria Carolyn Brooks – Conservative

Martin Christopher – Liberal Democrat

Rosanne Christina Kirk – Labour

Seamus Eoin Murray – Green Party

Gareth John Shields – Reform UK

"I've known Rosanne Kirk for about 15 years, and I've got to know her really well in that time," Mr Burnham said in a video seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"She is a real champion for your community, someone who fights hard for what she believes in — particularly our National Health Service. I know she has always backed NHS workers to the hilt."

Highlighting her time as Mayor of Lincoln, during which she raised £5,000 for Lincoln County Hospital's Urology Department, the former Labour minister added: "She knows how to get things done, she knows how to get her voice heard — and by getting your voice heard in the council, she will make a fantastic representative for your area.

"From my own experience, all I can say is you could not be electing a better, stronger voice for your area."

Responding to the video, Ms Kirk said: “I’m deeply grateful to my friend, the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, for his endorsement."