Unfortunately it's not just Mr Brady that some of us consider to be misguided as shown by the article below.
The first comment by a reader after the article is perhaps a fair reflection of the concerns of those of us that see a risk (I put it no stronger) of MAN being adversely affected in terms of long haul routes, passengers and jobs. If there was such an adverse effect for MAN, I'm not convinced it would be outweighed in the North West by, for example, LPL getting a few shuttle flights to LHR.
As for the North East, NCL and LBA already have connectivity to LHR and I can't understand how a few more onward long haul destinations would make the sort of difference that's being claimed.
Shed wrote re Brady: "It is therefore likely that he would be a prominent advocate of the party line".
I suspect you're right and he will know which way the wind is blowing.