A CANDIDATE for the Greater Manchester mayoral election said he will invite Donald Trump to the city if he wins - sparking a reaction from those opposed to the views of the new US President.

Stephen Morris, from Bury, is the English Democrats’ candidate for the race to sit in the hottest political seat in Greater Manchester in May.

And Mr Morris, who hails from Unsworth, has heaped praise on the President – who has already made some highly controversial decisions in the White House – saying that if he is elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester he will invite him to Manchester.

Mr Morris maintains that many other people in the region are admirers of the President, but others have criticised Mr Morris and said Trump's views do not represent those of the people of Greater Manchester.

If elected, Mr Morris says he would use “all the facilities available” to officially welcome the US President and make his visit to Greater Manchester “as grand and as memorable an occasion as possible”.

Mr Morris added: “I am a big fan of Donald Trump.

“I think it is great that he is actually doing what he said he would do during the election campaign.

“If only more politicians would do the same.

“I will make sure that every promise that I give in the election is done and I will focus on what needs to be done for Greater Manchester.

“If Donald Trump were to come to Greater Manchester as part of his official visit, that would be a great coup for Greater Manchester and really put us on the map.”

Mr Morris added that if President Trump did come to Greater Manchester, then as mayor he would make sure to put on a “great, big beautiful” reception for him at Manchester Town Hall.

Redvales Cllr Tamoor Tariq addressed an anti-Trump rally in Manchester city centre at the weekend, where around 4,000 gathered to protest against the US President’s planned state visit to the UK.

He said President Trump’s views do not represent those of the majority of people in Greater Manchester, and that Stephen Morris’ comments were “disappointing”.

“It is very arrogant of Steve Morris to be dishing out invitations to Donald Trump or anybody else,” added Cllr Tariq.

“Donald Trump’s beliefs and values are not welcome in our conurbation and I’m sure when it comes to the elections, Steve Morris will find that his opinions are not welcome here either.”