Bev Craig elected Greater Manchester Mayor as PM Burnham pledges new regional powers
Labour's Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, succeeding Prime Minister Andy Burnham and praising his plans to devolve income tax powers to local leaders.
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Bev Craig has been elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, securing a comfortable victory in Thursday's by-election with 309,525 votes.
The Labour candidate defeated Reform UK's Sian Astley, who received 157,178 votes. Voter turnout across the region's ten boroughs was notably low, falling just under 25 per cent.
The by-election was triggered after former mayor Andy Burnham stepped down in June to successfully contest the Makerfield parliamentary seat, subsequently becoming Prime Minister.
Speaking alongside Mr Burnham at a post-election rally in Manchester, Ms Craig welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to transferring more authority from Whitehall to regional leaders. She stated that the proposed devolution of powers could significantly improve lives across the city region, while Mr Burnham backed her to lead Greater Manchester into its "best decade ever".
Mr Burnham recently announced intentions to allocate a portion of income tax revenue directly to English city-region mayors. However, opposition figures have criticised the proposal, arguing it lacks specifics and could disadvantage areas with struggling economies.
Campaign pledges and future plans
Originally from Belfast, the 41-year-old moved to Manchester in 2003. During her mayoral campaign, she outlined several key policies aimed at transport, housing, and local business:
Freezing fares on the Bee Network for both Metrolink and bus services.
Expanding free bus travel to include children aged 11 to 18.
Building 50,000 new council and affordable homes over the next 15 years.
Introducing a £20 million fund to regenerate high streets and support small businesses.
Following the result, Reform candidate Sian Astley expressed pride in her party's campaign efforts and confirmed they would closely monitor the new mayor's progress in delivering her manifesto promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election?
- Labour candidate Bev Craig won the by-election with 309,525 votes, defeating Reform UK's Sian Astley.
- Why was a mayoral by-election held in Greater Manchester?
- The election was called after former mayor Andy Burnham stepped down in June to run as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield.
- What are Bev Craig's main policies as mayor?
- Her key pledges include freezing Bee Network fares, extending free bus travel to 11-18 year olds, building 50,000 affordable homes, and launching a £20m high street fund.