Labour's candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has launched her campaign with promises to improve public transport, including freezing bus fares and expanding routes, but has yet to outline the full costs of her proposals. Speaking at a campaign event on July 3 at Burnage Rugby Football Club, Craig unveiled the 'Bev Battle Bus' and outlined several key transport policies she hopes to deliver if elected on July 30.
Key Transport Policies
Craig said she would freeze bus fares and maintain a £2 cap, as well as extend bus passes such as the Our Pass, which she claims could put up to £500 into families' pockets. She also announced plans to expand bus routes to ensure every town across Greater Manchester has the transport it needs, including more night buses to workplaces. On tram network extensions in both north and south Manchester, she said she would 'kick off the work to get it done'. For the Stockport tram extension, she pledged to lay the groundwork ahead of the 2028 election and complete feasibility planning.
Cost Concerns
Despite these promises, Craig has not yet provided detailed costings. She stated, 'I would not make any promises I couldn't deliver so everything I’ll set out to the Greater Manchester people are things that are fully costed, worked through, and deliverable within 18 months.' She later told the Manchester Evening News that her manifesto would include some costings, adding, 'I have worked on the basis this would not be funded by an additional cost on taxpayers.' Craig emphasised that the proposals would be funded through existing resources, such as business rate receipts and government grants, and that free bus passes for 11 to 18 year olds could generate money by increasing ridership.
Clean Air Zone and Potholes
Craig also confirmed she would not support any plans for a Clean Air Zone, stating the proposal was 'not on the table'. She announced plans for a potholes fund to help local councils fix key routes across the region.
Northern Powerhouse Rail
Regarding the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project, which includes a new train line between Manchester and Liverpool, Craig expressed support but cautioned against repeating mistakes of past projects like HS2. She said, 'I’ve been a big advocate for better trains across the north of England... but it cannot be delivered in the way HS2 Limited has done.' She added that with Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, she is optimistic that the project can be delivered effectively.
Election Context
This month's vote is a special election to replace former Mayor Andy Burnham, who is now the Makerfield MP. Voters will go to the polls again in 2028 to elect their next mayor for a full term. Craig, who has managed a budget of over £1 billion and over 8,000 staff as leader of Manchester City Council, said, 'I’m standing on a track record of someone who has delivered.'
