Greater Manchester mayor race today: Labour names council boss Bev Craig to replace Burnham

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig has been announced as the Labour candidate to succeed Andy Burnham as the metropolitan mayor of Greater Manchester. The high-stakes by-election, scheduled for 30 July, was automatically triggered by rules preventing a sitting MP from holding the mayoralty, following Burnham's victory in the Makerfield parliamentary contest.

The Full Story

The race to secure one of the most powerful positions in British politics outside Westminster has officially begun. Following Andy Burnham's return to Parliament last week, the Labour Party acted swiftly to name 41-year-old Bev Craig as its official candidate. Craig, who has led Manchester City Council since December 2021 when she succeeded Sir Richard Leese, is widely regarded as a continuous presence who can capitalize on Burnham's regional popularity. Originally from Northern Ireland, she moved to Greater Manchester at 18 and holds the distinction of being the city's first female and first LGBT council leader.

However, the battle for the mayoral crown will not be a straightforward coronation. Opposition parties from both the left and right see a prime opportunity to capitalize on recent local election shifting trends. The Green Party has thrown its full weight behind Trafford councillor Geraldine Coggins, who was the first candidate to formally launch a campaign. The Greens are printing more than 50,000 leaflets, buoyed by their recent local election surge where they captured 17 of the 36 seats contested on Manchester City Council.

Concurrently, the political right is fractured but highly ambitious. The insurgent party Restore Britain, led by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, has selected Marlon West, a prominent campaigner against child sexual exploitation whose daughter Scarlett was targeted by local grooming gangs. Meanwhile, Reform UK is aiming to recover from a disappointing second-place finish in Makerfield. Reform is rumored to be considering either Dan Barker, their 2024 mayoral candidate, or Sian Astley, the party's group leader on Manchester City Council. Adding further complexity, Workers Party leader George Galloway announced his own candidacy on 19 June, criticizing the mid-summer election date.

Who's Involved

The campaign centers on a varied group of local political figures and activists:

• Bev Craig: The current leader of Manchester City Council and deputy mayor for economy, business, and inclusive growth. She is now the official Labour candidate.
• Geraldine Coggins: A former university lecturer, author, and current Green Party leader on Trafford Council, standing as the Green mayoral candidate.
• Marlon West: A former mental health nurse and high-profile anti-grooming activist representing the Restore Britain party.
• Andy Burnham: The former metropolitan mayor whose election as MP for Makerfield triggered this flash summer vote.
• Rupert Lowe: Leader of Restore Britain and MP for Great Yarmouth, who is actively backing West's campaign.
• George Galloway: Leader of the Workers Party GB, who has confirmed his place on the ballot.

By the Numbers

The election dynamics are heavily shaped by recent voting statistics and local council shifts:

• 420,000: The number of local residents who voted for Andy Burnham in the last mayoral election, representing the core base Labour hopes to retain.
• 108: The number of local council seats lost by Labour across the region during the May local elections.
• 104: The number of council seats gained by Reform UK in that same May election cycle.
• 26: The additional council seats picked up by the Green Party in May, including 17 out of 36 seats available on Manchester City Council.
• 15,696: The total votes achieved by Reform UK in last week's Makerfield by-election, falling short of the 18,000 minimum predicted by leader Nigel Farage.

What This Means

This election marks a critical structural test for Greater Manchester's political landscape. Under Andy Burnham, the role expanded to become one of the most influential political positions in the UK. Craig intends to preserve this legacy, highlighting her previous work bringing buses under public control via the Bee Network and freezing fares. Her platform centers on creating a New High Streets Fund and accelerating affordable housing construction.

What's interesting is that the vote will see a return to the Supplementary Vote (SV) system. This format allows voters to select both a first and second choice candidate. If no single candidate wins more than 50% of the first-preference votes initially, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff, and the second choices from eliminated candidates are redistributed. The Green Party believes this system gives voters the freedom to choose them first without fear of wasting a vote, while Labour figures like Stretford and Urmston MP Andrew Western insist the race remains a strict choice between Labour's record and Reform UK.

What to Expect

The coming days will bring official candidate confirmations and detailed platform rollouts:

• The Liberal Democrats are expected to formally announce their candidate choice, with Manchester City Council councillor Richard Kilpatrick and Trafford Mayor Jane Brophy named as the leading contenders.
• The Conservative Party is expected to finalize its selection, with Bolton councillor Nadim Muslim currently considered a primary option.
• The Green Party has confirmed it will publish its full, comprehensive manifesto shortly, focusing heavily on cost-of-living measures and the climate emergency.
• Registered voters across the region will head to the polls on Thursday 30 July to cast their ballots.

People Also Ask

When is the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election?

The election is scheduled to take place on Thursday 30 July 2026. This sudden summer vote was automatically triggered under local governance rules after the previous mayor won a seat in Parliament.

Why did Andy Burnham step down as mayor?

Andy Burnham stepped down after winning the parliamentary by-election for Makerfield. Regional rules dictate that an individual cannot simultaneously serve as a metropolitan mayor and a sitting Member of Parliament.

How does the Supplementary Vote system work in this election?

The Supplementary Vote system allows voters to choose a first and second preference candidate on their ballot paper. If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote outright in the first round, the top two candidates enter a runoff where second-preference votes are counted to decide the winner.

Who is the Labour candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty?

Bev Craig, the current leader of Manchester City Council and regional deputy mayor, has been officially selected as the Labour candidate to contest the mayoral seat.