The Labour Party has confirmed its candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral election to replace Andy Burnham, who won a by-election to return to Parliament. The election is scheduled for July 30, and Labour faces a significant threat from Reform UK, which performed strongly in recent local elections in the area.
Bev Craig Selected as Labour Candidate
Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council and former deputy mayor for economy, business, and inclusive growth on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has been chosen as Labour's candidate, according to BBC News. Craig said: "Greater Manchester is a special place – from the Industrial Revolution, the trade union and co-operative movements and the suffragettes, this place has always fought for progress. This place changed my life and I owe it everything. It gave me opportunities I could never have imagined, and I've spent my career trying to give something back."
Both the Green Party and Restore Britain have also submitted candidates, aiming to win the mayoral seat for the first time in their parties' history.
Burnham's Return to Parliament
Andy Burnham departed the mayoral role after successfully launching a bid to return to the Houses of Parliament, winning 54.8% of the vote at a by-election in Makerfield. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon received 34.5% of the vote in that contest.
Burnham has been tipped as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned as Prime Minister and Labour leader on June 22. Starmer said: "But I know the question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour Party, to take us into power, and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people. Those questions have been answered. The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace."
Reform UK's Strong Performance in Greater Manchester
While the Reform Party is yet to field a candidate for the mayoral ballot, they have previously performed well in council elections across Greater Manchester. Reform UK won 106 seats in the area’s 10 local authorities, including 18 out of 19 contested in Tameside, 24 out of 25 in Wigan, and seven on Manchester City Council.
Nigel Farage’s party has not yet named its candidate, but the frontrunner is Dan Barker, a nuclear industry project manager who came fourth with 7.5% of the vote in the 2024 mayoral election, according to The Guardian.
