"A Conservative Party source said: "The Conservatives received under 20% of the vote in Manchester in 2021. We have to be realistic about our prospects in this election.""
In other words, we'd no chance so we basically picked any idiot who was willing to stand, so no loss.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68623838
The candidate:
I think, in truth, [the Conservatives have] given up on Greater Manchester and the north of England
He's right isn't he. So he's not a
complete idiot, notwithstanding he's joined Reform UK.