Bev Craig wins Manchester by-election as new mayor vows power shift
Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, pledging to use new devolved powers to transform the region.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Bev Craig, 41, won the mayoral by-election with 309,525 votes
- Set to inherit devolved powers and income tax revenue shares from Whitehall
- Key pledges include freezing Bee Network fares and building 50,000 new homes
The mayoral by-election was triggered after Andy Burnham stood down to run as the MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester in June. In Thursday's vote, Labour candidate Bev Craig secured victory by garnering 309,525 votes, comfortably defeating Reform UK candidate Sian Astley, who finished with 157,178 votes.
Following her election win, the 41-year-old appeared alongside Burnham at a Labour rally in Manchester. Referencing the new central government dynamics, Craig stated that for a prime minister only two weeks in office to start devolving powers away from Whitehall and into areas capable of making a tangible difference was something that could truly change lives.
"I will rise to his challenge about taking the power and control that he is offering mayors like me to make our regions better. Because that is what it is all about."
Bev Craig
This transfer of authority follows Burnham's previous proposal to allocate a share of income tax revenue to all English city-region mayors for the first time, part of a wider effort to shift power from Westminster to local leaders. Meanwhile, opposition parties argued that the proposals lacked sufficient detail and risked leaving economically weaker areas behind.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The devolution of powers and fiscal responsibilities from central government bodies like Westminster and Whitehall to local authorities is a key UK governance trend. It aims to empower regional leaders to tailor public services, transportation, and economic regeneration to their specific local needs.
Over two million voters across Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs were eligible to participate in the contest, though the turnout ultimately reached just under 25 percent. Craig grew up on a council estate in Belfast before relocating to Manchester in 2003 at the age of 18 to pursue a degree in politics and modern history at the University of Manchester.
Her headline campaign promises focus on freezing fares on the Bee Network's Metrolink and buses, alongside expanding free bus travel to encompass individuals aged 11 to 18. Furthermore, she has committed to delivering 50,000 new properties combining council housing and genuinely affordable homes over the next 15 years, alongside launching a £20m high street regeneration scheme to support local enterprises.
Source: BBC Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment