UKIP select chasidic Manchester mayoral candidate

Greater Manchester could have its first Orthodox Jewish mayor next year – if the city votes UKIP.

Shneur Odze, 35, from Salford, is due to be unveiled as the anti-immigration party’s candidate, pending final confirmation, and said this week that his campaign would focus on “everyday issues, like health, housing and policing”.

He is up against overwhelming favourite Andy Burnham, the Labour candidate who left his shadow cabinet position to concentrate on his mayoral campaign.

However, Lubavitcher Odze said there was “everything to play for,” explaining that UKIP won the second highest vote-share in half the boroughs in Greater Manchester.

“While Andy Burnham is measuring up the curtains, I’ll be hitting the streets, going door-to-door,” he said.