So, it's the big BBC Greater Manchester Mayoral debate on Sunday afternoon, straight after the footy, but only six candidates are putting their views – five in the studio and one on camera. One candidate in particular who could potentially liven up proceedings is David Sutcliffe, the Independent standing on an 'Anti-Corruption' ticket. Why isn't he there?
Is he a Nazi? Criminal? Gangster? Anti-Labour Party? No, no, no. He's voted Labour all his life, is an ex-cop with 29 year's service in the Greater Manchester Police, retiring at the rank of Inspector, and is now is a food bank volunteer.
Maybe David Sutcliffe just didn't want to turn up? No, no, no. He was desperate to get on...but by the time he'd actually found out about the tv debate from one of the other candidates, the BBC had already filmed it, almost a week in advance. And, ever since, he has been trying to find out why he was omitted...
"I've contacted them on Twitter, Facebook, by phone: nothing" he says "The BBC's audience services said someone would phone me back but I'm still waiting. I've been invited to two hustings, by a disabled action group and the Royal College of Nursing, but on the main ones I've not had a look in."
Neither has David had any serious press or radio coverage. The silence is rather deafening. Why is this? "I think basically it's because of my message" he laughs. Ironically.
But his message contains serious allegations against the current GM Mayor, Andy Burnham, and senior officers of the Greater Manchester Police. He's basically a whistle blower who is also speaking out for other ex-police officers. But there's hardly been a peep in public...
"The thing I find most disconcerting is the booklet they send out...you have to put £5,000 up for that which I couldn't raise, so I asked for my message to be put on the website" he explains "But unless you put your £5,000 up you can't put anything on the website as well, even though it's a public website 'GM Elects'. It's absolutely disgraceful – it's a carve up."
So, having been through the democratic process, what does he think of it? "It's dead, virtually" he says "There's been no scrutiny whatsoever of Andy Burnham. I've been a Labour supporter all my life but the way this man has behaved needs outing and nobody is prepared to challenge him, and it's not right."
David Sutcliffe says that he and other ex-officers have handed over hundreds of documents to Andy Burnham and spoke to him directly about allegations of corruption in the force, but that the incumbent Mayor hasn't acted on them. Which is strange against the backdrop of recent reports showing that over 80,000 crimes were not recorded, followed by the eventual resignation of GMP Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.
David remains shocked that his candidature hasn't been trumpeted... "I would have thought the media would have been all over it because the debate has been so sterile; nobody's landing any punches, nobody's challenging anybody and I'm coming out and saying 'Andy Burnham, you're a...'"
...Er, hold on a sec, can the Salford Star report this, without being involved in a potential libel case of unproven allegations? We phone up the 'Ethics Hotline' of the National Union of Journalists, and the bloke advises caution...
"Nobody's reporting it" says David, who has been calling Andy Burnham a 'c****** l***' for months. Why isn't Andy Burnham suing him? "There's a reason why he's not coming back and having a go" he urges "...If I wasn't on rock solid ground he would have sued me months ago..."
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We email Andy Burnham's news team...
Hi
I've just interviewed David Sutcliffe, who, as you know, is standing for GM Mayor and is making serious allegations about Andy Burnham, particularly very loudly accusing him of 'c*********' and being a 'l***'. If these allegations are untrue will Andy Burnham be suing him? And why won't Andy Burnham participate in a debate with him? If you can comment on any of this I would be really grateful...
Cheers
No response.
We contact the BBC North West Tonight team...
Hi
I watched the GM Mayor debate on BBC yesterday and noticed that one of the candidates, David Sutcliffe, did not appear, and subsequently discovered that he was not asked to appear. Isn't this against the spirit of the election in which every candidate is entitled to an equal opportunity to put their case? I will be covering this for the Salford Star so if you could comment on this asap I'd be grateful.
Cheers and ta
No response.
"I was proud to be a cop and I went out and arrested bad guys – I had no inclination whatsoever to be a politician" David says "However I'm just disgusted the way these people are behaving. It's like something from Putin's Russia, obviously without the arrests etc...
"In the cops I was known as a thief taker, somebody who locks up a lot of people, so I got scrutinised in court, quite rightly as well if you're taking somebody's liberty" he explains "I had no issues with that at all, but these people just walk around with utter contempt.
"Myself and others who have blown the whistle have been treated appallingly and not had a voice" David concludes "That's why I'm standing as an Independent..."
The Salford Star hasn't got a clue about whether the allegations against Burnham and the GMP are true or not. But surely they need to be investigated fully and openly, which is all that this guy is asking. And he's fundraised over £6,500 from the community to allow him to stand in the election and air these sentiments.
Unfortunately, David Sutcliffe's voice has rarely been heard, as postal voting begins before the 6th May polling day...
To find out more about why David Sutcliffe is standing as an Independent 'Anti-Corruption' candidate see his Twitter feed @Sutcliffe4Mayor or his Facebook page David Sutcliffe Independent Anti-Corruption Candidate for GM Mayor, or his website – click here
The full list of candidates standing for GM Mayor...
Nick Buckley – Reform UK
Andy Burnham – Labour Party
Laura Evans – Conservative Party
Marcus Farmer – Independent
Melanie Horrocks – Green Party
Simon Lepori – Liberal Democrats
Alec Marvel – Independent
Stephen Morris – English Democrats
David Sutcliffe – Independent
For more details see previous Salford Star article – click here
The Salford Star is not political and does not endorse any candidate in any election.
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