Labour’s Bev Craig has been elected as the new Greater Manchester Mayor, taking over from Andy Burnham and securing a convincing victory over her nearest rival from Reform UK.
Craig, who previously served as leader of Manchester City Council, won the contest with nearly double the votes picked up by Reform UK candidate Sian Astley. The result will come as a relief to Labour, who were watching closely to see whether Nigel Farage’s party could make serious inroads into one of their most important regional strongholds.
Andy Burnham, who held the role since 2017 and became one of the most recognisable faces in English regional politics, stepped down after two terms. He built a reputation for clashing with Westminster on issues like transport, housing and the handling of the Covid pandemic, and his departure leaves big shoes to fill.
Craig now inherits responsibility for one of the most powerful regional offices outside of London, covering ten boroughs and a population of around 2.8 million people. The Greater Manchester Mayor has significant powers over transport, policing, housing and economic development, making it one of the most influential elected positions in England outside the capital.
Her win signals that Labour’s grip on Greater Manchester remains firm for now, despite Reform UK making noise across the north of England in recent months. Reform had been pushing hard in several local contests, hoping to capitalise on frustration with both the Conservatives and Labour among working-class voters. The scale of Craig’s victory suggests that strategy did not land as effectively here as Reform might have hoped.
Craig campaigned on continuing the work Burnham started, with a focus on improving public transport across the region, tackling the housing crisis and driving economic growth. She has also spoken about the importance of keeping communities at the heart of decision-making, rather than having policy handed down from Whitehall.
The Greater Manchester mayoralty has long been seen as a test bed for devolution in England. Burnham used the platform aggressively, often positioning himself as a counterweight to whoever was in Downing Street. Whether Craig will take a similarly combative approach remains to be seen, though with Labour now in government nationally, the relationship between the metro mayor and Westminster is likely to look quite different to the friction that defined much of the Burnham era.
For Reform UK, the result is a reminder that translating poll numbers and online enthusiasm into actual votes in major regional contests is still a work in progress. Sian Astley ran a visible campaign but could not get close to Craig when it came to the final count.
Craig becomes one of the most senior Labour figures in local government, and her performance in the role will be watched closely as the party looks to demonstrate that devolution and regional leadership can deliver real results for people outside London.