Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig has been confirmed as Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.
Belfast-born Craig, who has been council leader since December 2021, is a graduate of the University of Manchester and is looking to follow in the footsteps of Andy Burnham, who left to fight the Makerfield by-election.
She said: “Greater Manchester is a special place – from the industrial revolution, the trade union and cooperative movements and the suffragettes – this place has always fought for progress.
“This place changed my life and I owe it everything. It gave me opportunities I could never have imagined, and I’ve spent my career trying to give something back.
“While Westminster left places like ours behind, Greater Manchester has taken control of our own future and we’ve started building our own success.
“Working alongside former Mayor Andy Burnham, we have achieved so much over the years – bringing buses back under public control, creating jobs, attracting investment and pushing Greater Manchester forward as a real powerhouse of the North West.
“But for too many people who work hard and do the right thing, life still feels too hard and unaffordable. As Mayor, I will apply a simple test: will it make life better?
“I will work every day to make sure everyone shares in the success Greater Manchester is building – making sure there’s more money in people’s pockets, pride in every town centre through a New High Streets Fund, a new generation of council and affordable homes, and an expanded Bee Network that freezes fares and works for all of us.
“That’s why I’m standing to be Mayor – to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone.”
Geraldine Coggins will be standing for the Green Party, while Marlon West has been announced as the Restore Britain candidate.
The mayoral by-election will take place on July 30.
Reform has yet to announce its candidate, but pressure is mounting on the party following three high-profile by-election defeats.