Bev Craig elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester following a decisive Labour victory
Bev Craig has been elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeding Andy Burnham, who stepped down to become the UK's prime minister. Craig, the current leader of Manchester City Council, secured a decisive victory in the largest by-election of its kind in British political history. She won 66.3% of the votes in a runoff against Reform UK's Sian Astley, following a first-round vote where no candidate achieved an outright majority. The victory is a significant boost for the Labour Party, particularly as it follows a period where Reform UK dominated local council seats in the region. Craig's campaign focused on a pledge to deliver 50,000 new homes and a new £20m high street scheme to support small businesses. She urged voters to move away from divisive politics and promised to fight for a better life for all residents. Despite a turnout of just under 25%, the result signals a strong public confidence in the administration's new leadership and Craig's ability to manage the city region's economic growth.