Bev Craig has been elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, following a by-election held on Thursday. The Labour candidate secured 309,525 votes, defeating Reform's Sian Astley, who received 157,178 votes.
Ms Craig succeeds Andy Burnham, who stepped down from the mayoral role after winning the Makerfield by-election in June and subsequently becoming UK Prime Minister on 20 June.
Having moved to Manchester in 2003, Ms Craig began her career in local government and was first elected as a councillor for the Burnage ward in 2011. She served as executive member for adult social care and health during the Covid-19 pandemic and became deputy council leader in 2021, before taking over as leader. She was awarded an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours List for services to local government.
Her campaign pledges include freezing Metrolink and bus fares on the Bee Network and extending free bus travel to 11 to 18-year-olds. She has also committed to delivering 50,000 new homes, a mix of council properties and affordable housing, over the next 15 years, and launching a new £20m high street scheme.