Did Andy Burnham really fail to build any social housing in Greater Manchester?
- A Reform mayoral candidate, Sian Astley, falsely claimed that Andy Burnham had not overseen the construction of any social housing in Greater Manchester during his nine years as mayor.
- Official government figures, analysed by The Independent, contradict this, showing 18,433 affordable and social homes were completed across Greater Manchester between 2017 and 2025.
- Of these, 2,368 were specifically for social rent, with 611 new social homes delivered in 2025 alone, marking the highest annual figure since 2011.
- Reform UK admitted Ms Astley “mis-spoke” and later clarified she meant that not enough social housing had been built in recent decades.
- The claim emerged as Andy Burnham is expected to become prime minister, having pledged the largest council house-building programme “since the post-war period” under his leadership.
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