Bev Craig has been elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeding Andy Burnham in the role. The by-election was called following Burnham’s election as the MP for Makerfield in June, a move that paved the way for him to become prime minister last month.
Craig, who has led Manchester City Council since 2021 and served as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s deputy mayor for economy, business and inclusive growth, expressed that she felt humbled by the result.
The path to victory required a second-preference vote count, as no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round. In the final tally, Craig defeated Reform UK’s Sian Astley by 309,525 votes to 157,178.
During the first round of voting, Craig had secured 46.5% of the vote compared to 22.2% for Astley.
This triggered the inclusion of ballot papers from voters who did not select either candidate as their first choice, which were then checked for second-preference votes for the Labour or Reform candidates. Craig successfully expanded her lead during this process.
While more than two million people across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester were eligible to vote, the turnout for the contest was recorded at just under 25%. Analysis of the results showed that Craig topped the poll in the first round across all 10 local authority areas.
Astley finished second in eight of those areas, while the Green candidate, Geraldine Coggins, was the runner-up in Manchester, and the Conservative candidate, Phil Eckersley, placed second in Trafford.
As the UK’s first female metro mayor, Craig addressed the public following her win, stating she would set herself a simple task: ensuring that every decision she takes as mayor passes the test of making residents' lives better.
She noted that the city region, which gave the world the Suffragettes, had changed the world before and would do so again.
"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 promised. She also thanked those who voted for her and those who "loaned their votes" as second preferences, adding that she stands ready to serve the three million people living in the region.
Addressing the economic climate, Craig remarked that for many, life is currently too hard, and the belief that hard work leads to a better life for the community is fading.
She emphasized that everyone deserves a quality home in a good neighborhood and the ability to plan for their future and that of their children.
She called for an end to divisive politics, urging the region to move forward together. Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, congratulated Craig on social media, thanking the activists who worked to deliver the win.
