Beverley Anne Craig Secures Greater Manchester Mayoralty as Labour Retains Key Post

The Labour Party has maintained its grip on Greater Manchester’s highest political office after Beverley Anne Craig emerged victorious in the region's mayoral election, taking over the position vacated by Andy Burnham.

Craig, who has served as the leader of Manchester City Council and represents the Burnage ward, was declared the winner late on Friday, July 31st, following a tightly contested secondary vote count. The election was necessitated by the departure of Burnham, who gave up the mayoralty to become the MP for Makerfield before subsequently becoming Prime Minister.


How the Election Was Decided

Under the supplementary vote system used for the election, voters indicated both a primary and secondary candidate preference. Because no contender succeeded in gathering over 50 percent of the first-preference votes, the election proceeded to a second round.

Ms. Craig ultimately defeated Reform UK’s Sian Astley, who finished in second place. The remaining five contenders—independent Marcus Jonathan Farmer, Marlon West (Restore Britain), Richard Kilpatrick (Liberal Democrats), Phil Eckersley (Conservatives), and Geraldine Coggins (Greens)—were all knocked out of the race following the initial tally.


Unprecedentedly Low Voter Participation

Despite the significant authority associated with the mayoral post, the ballot was marked by historic voter apathy. Participation hit an all-time low for a regional mayoral election, with only about 25 percent of eligible voters taking part.

Out of more than two million registered electors, more than half a million ballots were submitted. This represents a steep drop from the previous election in 2024, when turnout exceeded 30 percent.


Political Transition and Campaign Commitments

Ms. Craig’s elevation triggers immediate administrative changes. Legislation prohibits an individual from serving simultaneously as mayor and a local authority member, meaning Beverley Craig automatically relinquished her roles as leader of Manchester City Council and councillor for Burnage upon her win.

A prominent figure in local governance for 15 years, Craig has represented Burnage since 2011. She gained wider political recognition in late 2021 when she succeeded long-standing council leader Sir Richard Leese.

Her mayoral campaign focused heavily on public transport and social equity, underpinned by two cornerstone promises:

• Transport: A price freeze on all Metrolink and bus fares, alongside free public transit for residents aged 11 to 18 throughout the region.
• Housing: A target to deliver 50,000 'genuinely affordable' homes by the year 2039.

Immediate Outlook

Beverley Craig is set to enter office right away to commence her mayoral term. Her stepping down from the council leaves a vacancy in the Burnage ward, with a local by-election anticipated within six weeks. Meanwhile, the Labour Party is expected to begin selecting a new leader for Manchester City Council shortly.