From growing up in care to becoming city's Lord Mayor

COUNCILLOR SAYS SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED SOMEONE LIKE HER WOULD BE ELECTED TO THE ROLE

- JOSEPH TIMAN

MANCHESTER’S new Lord Mayor says she ‘would never have dreamed of being appointed to the role after growing up in care from the age of six months.

Clayton and Openshaw councillor Donna Ludford, 53, who became Lord Mayor of Manchester last week, wants to ‘break down barriers’ while in office.

She follows Labour colleague Tommy Judge who served 18 months in the ceremonial job, undertaking 518 engagements. But the new Lord Mayor says she wants to draw on her experience of growing up in the care system to support and inspire young people across Manchester.

“I lived on many of our council estates - all of them only a few miles from this town hall,” she said. “Back then, I would never have dreamed for one second someone like me could be elected as Lord Mayor of Manchester.”