Greater Manchester's night time economy tsar Sacha Lord has 'categorically' ruled out becoming an MP after joining Labour.
Mr Lord, who is an adviser to Mayor Andy Burnham and co-founder of the Parklife Festival and The Warehouse Project music events, recently met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after joining the party.
He was appointed the city-region’s first ever night time economy advisor by Mr Burnham in 2018.
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The move follows former Manchester United star Gary Neville, who heads up several business and property interests in the city, who joined the party in January.
Mr Lord said: "This is a move I have been wanting to make for a long time, and the current political circumstances have hastened this ambition.
"I have seen the positive difference that Andy has made during my time working with the mayor’s office, and I want to support him in giving Greater Manchester and the North West a louder voice.
"Young people and young families today must be given the same opportunities I was given throughout the early stages of my career under the previous Labour Government.
"Not only was entrepreneurialism encouraged, but there were policies in place to help people get their first steps on the property ladder or discover new career paths, both geographically and across industry sectors.
"Over the past 12 years, I’ve watched the Conservatives take away these opportunities, by quashing ambition, limiting entrepreneurship, and implementing policies that restrain our cultural progress and our ability to work with our international counterparts.
"We need a change in Government and for me, the only Party to deliver opportunity is the Labour Party. I fully support the Labour Party in their ambitions to lead the country and I look forward to working even more closely with the party going forward."
Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, added: "I’m really pleased Sacha has taken the step to join Labour.
"He’s got enormous experience in business and has been an incredibly strong voice for hospitality and the night time economy, both during Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. He will be a huge asset to our Party.
"As the Tories crash the economy, many people are taking another look at Labour, and it’s great to have Sacha in the party."
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