Bev Craig has given her first exclusive interview since becoming the new Greater Manchester mayor for the Manchester Evening News' new podcast the Mancunian Way.
The podcast will delve into some of our region's biggest stories in greater detail, having already looked at Andy Burnham's meteoric rise from mayor to PM with our Features and Perspectives Editor Rob Williams and Editor in Chief Sarah Lester. Editor Beth Abbit also sat down with our Lifestyle and What's On editors, Dianne Bourne and Jenna Campbell, to get the inside scoop on how Oasis reformed for last year's historic run of gigs - as well as some gossip on whether they could be heading back to a stage near you some time soon.
Craig's first week in office
In the third episode, Bev Craig met with our politics writer Iram Ramzan at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority HQ in Manchester city centre, fresh off the back of last week's historic victory, to discuss her plans for her tenure as mayor, as well as chatting all things Andy Burnham.
"It is strange to turn on the telly and not see Andy that I would text to wind him up if Everton lost, but Andy the Prime Minister," Bev joked. She told Iram she has used her first week to 'signal intent' of 'what she is about' and 'how quickly she'll deliver'.
In her first week, the new mayor announced free bus fares for 11-16-year-olds, as well as baby bundles including certain essentials for mothers and their baby’s first three months, such as a Moses basket, seasonal clothes and toiletries.
Following Andy Burnham
"People say to me, how are you going to follow Andy? I think it's a great thing. it's rare you come into a role and the person before you was that popular," she said. But she insisted that her job as mayor 'isn't to be friends with the Prime Minister' but rather 'to get the best deal' for the region - and that she would be a 'mayor for everyone', not just a Labour mayor.
Policy pledges
In terms of policy, she pledged to chair a 'cost of living' summit in September, and vowed to tackle the issue of Strangeways prison, which she dubbed 'not fit for purpose'. She also reiterated her plans to have 10,000 new and genuinely affordable council homes either under construction or in the pipeline by 2028, and said she remains committed to plans for an underground station at Piccadilly.
