‘Low skills blight lives’: Richard Parker on his mayoral ambitions

Richard Parker wants to do as Manchester has done and bring buses into public ownership. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

When Richard Parker recounts his career history, he casually mentions he was asked by the Japanese government to advise them after the 2011 earthquakes, and helped reform housing in Northern Ireland in the wake of the Troubles.

These projects were normal for someone who brushed shoulders with senior leaders across the world during his time as a public finance accountant and partner at PwC.