Beverley Anne Craig Has Been Elected as the New Mayor of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester – Beverley Anne Craig has been elected as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, ensuring the Labour Party retains control of the city-region’s highest office following the departure of Andy Burnham.

Ms. Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council and a long-serving representative for the Burnage ward, was officially declared the winner late Friday evening, July 31st, after a tense second round of counting.

The election was triggered by the departure of Andy Burnham, who recently vacated the mayoralty to serve as the MP for Makerfield before ascending to the role of prime minister.


The Count

The election utilised the supplementary vote system, where voters provide both a first and second preference. Because no single candidate secured more than 50 percent of the first-preference votes, the race moved to a second round.

Ms. Craig faced off against Sian Astley of Reform UK, who secured a second-place finish. The remaining five candidates—Geraldine Coggins (Greens), Phil Eckersley (Conservatives), Richard Kilpatrick (Liberal Democrats), Marlon West (Restore Britain), and independent Marcus Jonathan Farmer—were all eliminated after the first round of counting.


Record Low Turnout

Despite the significance of the role, the election was marked by a historic lack of engagement at the ballot box. Turnout was recorded at approximately a quarter of the electorate—the lowest ever for a mayoral election in the region.

Of an electorate of more than two million people, just over half a million votes were cast. This marks a sharp decline from the 2024 mayoral election, which saw a turnout of over 30 percent.


A New Era for Manchester

The victory marks a significant shift in the local political landscape. By law, the Mayor cannot simultaneously serve on a local authority; consequently, Ms. Craig has automatically resigned as the leader of Manchester City Council and as a councillor for Burnage.

Ms. Craig has been a fixture in Manchester politics for 15 years, representing Burnage since 2011. She rose to national prominence in late 2021 when she replaced the long-serving Sir Richard Leese as leader of Manchester City Council.

During her campaign, Ms. Craig leaned heavily on infrastructure and social equity. Her key pledges included:

• Transport: Freezing all bus and Metrolink fares and extending free travel to all 11 to 18-year-olds across the region.
• Housing: A commitment to build 50,000 'genuinely affordable' homes by 2039.

What Happens Next?

The new Mayor is expected to take office immediately to begin her term. Her resignation from the council has triggered a vacancy in the Burnage ward, with a by-election expected to be scheduled within the next six weeks.

The Labour Party will also now begin the process of selecting a new leader for Manchester City Council to fill the void left by Ms. Craig’s elevation to the mayoralty.