Craig confirmed as Labour’s pick for GM mayoral by-election
Cllr Bev Craig, who has led Manchester City Council for the last five years, is bidding to replace Prime Minister in waiting Andy Burnham.
As was expected, the Labour Party has confirmed Craig will run in the by-election for the vacant role of Greater Manchester Mayor on 30 July. She is the third candidate to be announced, alongside Restore Britain’s Marlon West and The Green Party’s Geraldine Coggins.
Reform UK is expected to be Labour’s main challenger for the mayoralty and is yet to announce its candidate.
Read what Bev Craig will have to do to win the by-election and what kind of mayor she will be
In a statement, Craig said she would fight for people for whom Greater Manchester’s recent growth had made little difference.
“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?” she said. “That’s why I’m standing to be mayor – to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone.”
Craig has promised a “High Streets Fund” to restore pride in town centres and a “new generation of council homes”.
During her tenure as leader of Manchester City Council, Craig has come under scrutiny for a perceived lack of affordable housing delivery in the city centre. Some consider that private sector developers are given an easy ride when it comes to contributions to discounted housing.
Read more about Craig’s views on affordable housing delivery in Manchester in this 2025 interview
However, Craig will point to the recent approval of a standalone affordable housing block as part of phase two of Salboy’s Viadux, and the construction of a 60% affordable scheme by Latimer on Great Ducie Street as evidence the dial is moving. More affordable homes were delivered across the city in 2025 than at any point in the last 25 years.
Throughout her five years in the hotseat, Craig has repeatedly insisted that while “the city centre is not done”, there is a need for a sharper focus on outlying urban centres. This shift in focus is evidenced in places like Gorton and Wythenshawe, which are undergoing regeneration.
Not sure this is a great choice, plays into the narrative that the mayor is all about Manchester and not Greater Manchester
By J
I think Bev would make a great GM Mayor, best of luck to her in the running !
By Therealist
All due respect to Craig, she has done okay picking up after Leese, but only okay. Isn’t there anyone else from the Labour who could be considered ?
By Tannoy
Can she sort the lights out at the bottom of Quay Street/Gartside St?
By Anonymous
No Thanks.
By Anon
Good luck Bev Craig hopefully you’ll be elected and your positive collaborative leadership on Manchester Council will be repeated and built on as GM Mayor.
By Russell P
Probably hedging her bets against losing her Council seat at the next local elections.
By Anonymous
Having e-maiIed Bev Craig directIy on two separate occasions about pioneering a ground breaking MMC affordabIe housing product in Manchester which wouId create muItipIe training opportunties and severaI new jobs and not having had even the courtesy of an acknowIedgment to my messages I am not hoIdong my breath!! When peopIe say they are serious about affordabIe housing but ignore reaI opportunties to innovate in the space you have to caII their commitment into question!!
By David SIeath
Manchester’s next mayor needs more than a big profile, they need roots and competence, as to Bev, she has hopefully been taught by the anointed one, but is that enough?
What it needs is real Northern grounding, loyalty (but not anointed ones version) to the region, and the connections to get things done both here and in Westminster.
This city isn’t a training ground. It’s second only to London in scale and ambition, and it deserves someone who already understands how it works, someone who’s grown with Manchester, not just arrived for the spotlight.
No scandals. No parachutes. No learning on the job.
Just a leader who matches the pace, pride, and purpose of a city that never stops moving.
So who fits the bill? Does anyone of them?
By Anonymous
Craig is close to Burnham. To not vote for her would be foolish, for Greater Manchester’s future.
By Elephant
While Bev Craig is well known to those who operate within the bubble of property and regeneration, I would hazard a guess that in today’s political environment of personality over policies, she will not be known to most Manchester City Council residents, never mind those across Greater Manchester casting their vote. Being a ‘familiar and tested local government leader’ to Place NW readers does not a profile make. Hopefully she can overcome the social media algorithms and make a compelling argument that resonates with the electorate. And should she succeed, she endeavours to tackle some of the imbalance we have seen across Greater Manchester in terms of collective prosperity.
By Makerfield constituent
Do Mayor’s have any real power anyway?
By Anonymous
“A cabinet level job needs cabinet level experience” – Andy Burnham.
Does Bev have the necessary experience?
By Idi
Any chance she can honour the promise made by Super Andy , when elected said first job to fix Manchester Airport , still worst in UK
By Trevor Ray
I think she’d make a really good GM mayor not least because she’d have the ear of her former colleague who’s about to become the Prime Minister.
By Anonymous
Not sure Bev Craig has the required credentials or personality which will appeal to Greater Manchester, which is a different prospect to just Manchester. Luckily for her the Green and Restore candidates announced also seem be lacking. All eyes on the Reform candidate, if they can get this one right you’d think its a genuine 50/50.
By Mr MCr
@Annonymous 3.07pm. Do you work for the Manchester evening news by any chance? Your hyperbolic description of Manchester ranks up there with ridiculously styled headlines along the lines of ‘Castle loved by Mancunians of all generations and and just a short 4 hour drive hosts the Edinburgh military tattoo for the 50th time ‘ . OR ‘ Museum, west of Manchester city centre to the band special to Mancunians since the 60s, announces anniversary exhibition of Sgt Peppers album’ OR real ones like ‘Manchester is the centre of the universe this weekend, let’s embrace it’ you do know that very little of what you said is true? Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham etc are just as ambitious and on as impressive a scale, just without the delusion. Help yourself by stopping believing the hyperbole.
By Anonymous
She’s the most competent by a wide margin, is the safest hands to continue growing the Manchester economy. But honestly, who’d be a politician in this day and age….it’s absolutely toxic. Best of luck bev
By Yolo
Good luck to him
By Anonymous
Trevor Ray, in the last year I’ve flown in and out of Manchester airport eight times and never had any issues, I found it to an efficient operation.
By Anonymous
Anyone that’s got the ear of the Prime Minster should be a shoe in but unfortunately people don’t always see the obvious.
By Anonymous
Who knew an article about Bev Craig could conjure up such jealous bile about hyperbole?
By Anonymous
Moving to an easier job in fairness, away from big issues such as SEN, social care etc that are a constant drain on council budgets.
By Anonymous