Manchester Council leader Bev Craig enters mayoral race

A mayoral by-election was triggered when Andy Burnham resigned following his return to the House of Commons after winning the Makerfield by-election.

Residents in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester will elect the new mayor on July 30.

Bev Craig is currently leader of Manchester City Council and Deputy Mayor for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth for Greater Manchester.

She has pledged to set out a “bold vision to build on progress made over the last decade” and deliver what she describes as “the next chapter” for the region.

A former council estate child whose family experienced unemployment, ill health and financial hardship, Bev Craig said Greater Manchester “transformed her life” after she moved to the city-region at 18.

After 15 years of working in local communities, leading Manchester City Council and campaigning for Greater Manchester, she says she wants “every person, community and borough” to share in the region’s success.

Bev Craig, Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester is a special place – from the industrial revolution, the trade union and cooperative movements and the suffragettes – this place has always fought for progress.

“This place changed my life and I owe it everything it gave me opportunities I could never have imagined, and I’ve spent my career trying to give something back.

“While Westminster left places like ours behind, Greater Manchester has taken control of our own future and we’ve started building our own success.

“Working alongside former mayor Andy Burnham, we have achieved so much over the – bringing buses back under public control, creating jobs, attracting investment, and pushing Greater Manchester forward as a real powerhouse of the North West.

Andy Burnham’s MP victory automatically triggered an election to find a new mayor (Image: NQ)

“But for too many people, who work hard and do the right thing, life still feels too hard and unaffordable.

“As mayor I will apply a simple test: will it make life better?

“I will work every day for us to make sure everyone shares in the success Greater Manchester is building – making sure there’s more money in people’s pockets, pride in every town centre with a New High Streets Fund, a new generation of council and affordable homes and an expanded Bee Network that freezes fares and that works for all of us.

“That’s why I’m standing to be mayor, to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone.”

Bev Craig enters the race with what her campaign describes as one of the strongest records of delivery in local government.

So far, Geraldine Coggins (Green Party) and Marlon West (Restore Britain) have confirmed they are also standing in the election.