May the 4th be with you

What would you like the new Metro mayor of Greater Manchester to do for you? Improve public transport? Build new starter homes affordable for all?Make sure there are enough bobbies on the beat and reduce crime across Greater Manchester.? Probably a combination of all three. On May the 4th (Star Wars day!) the person the good people vote for will take control of a huge budget worth millions and will have powers to affect transport, policing and house building. Big ticket items that affect millions of people's lives.

So it seemed only right to quiz those with aspirations of making Greater Manchester a better place for all.. And I was tasked with well... taking the candidates to task for Granada Reports. People are worried that the focus of the campaign and the new mayor will be the city centre, so to reflect that we held the debate in the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall. Five of the candidates went head to head, in front of an audience which included pensioners, students, social workers and other interested parties. A lively debate ensued...Topics included bus services in Bolton, social care in Salford, policing in Rochdale, and whether the forthcoming General Election meant that no one really cares. Whatever your allegiance, the political landscape is changing like it or not and it will have an effect on all our lives. Make sure you're involved on the big day. May the 4th is nearly with you.