The leadership of Greater Manchester has changed hands, with Labour candidate Bev Craig elected as the region’s new mayor following Andy Burnham’s move into national politics as Britain’s prime minister.
Craig secured victory on Friday after a runoff election, defeating Sian Astley of the anti-immigration Reform UK party with 66.3 per cent of the vote. In her victory speech, Craig thanked supporters and pledged to represent all residents of the region, including those who voted against her.
“For those of you that didn’t vote for me, I will still be your mayor. I will defend this city region with every bone in my body and I will fight for a better life for all of us”, she said.
The election recorded a low turnout, with only 25 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots — the lowest participation rate since Greater Manchester introduced a directly elected mayoral system in 2017.
The voting process used a preferential system, allowing voters to select first and second choices. Because no candidate secured more than half of the initial votes, the contest moved to a second round between the two leading candidates.
Craig, who previously served as leader of Manchester City Council, had narrowly missed an outright victory in the first round but gained enough support in the runoff to secure the position. Those results contributed to political upheaval within Labour, including the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Burnham’s subsequent return to national leadership.
Burnham had led Greater Manchester for nine years before leaving the mayoral role after winning a parliamentary seat and later becoming Labour leader following Starmer’s resignation.
He officially became prime minister on July 20, leaving behind a regional leadership position that had become closely associated with his political identity.
