In his role as PCC, Mr Lloyd will replace the Greater Manchester Police Authority and be responsible for appointing the chief constable of the region's force, setting local policing priorities, reporting annually on progress, and setting out the force budget and community safety grants.

BBC: Tony Lloyd

He is in charge of appointing the 15 members of an agency with sweeping authority over all transport projects in the metro area.

ECONOMIST: Urban sprawl

He also is under investigation for allegedly appointing his cronies to positions in Israel's Small Business Authority from 2003 to 2006, while he was labor minister.

CNN: Police raid Israeli ministerial building in Olmert inquiry

He has already amalgamated the Palestinian Authority's security forces and dropped hints that he may consider appointing a prime minister, in line with a plan from Germany's foreign minister, Joschka Fischer.

ECONOMIST: The killings begin again | The