Prime Minister Andy Burnham has thrown his weight behind Bev Craig as he urges voters to vote Labour in the contest to elect his successor. More than two million residents will go to the polls on July 30 to elect only the second ever metro mayor of Greater Manchester since the post was created in 2017.
Candidates and endorsements
Every major party fielded a candidate, with Labour selecting Bev Craig, who has served as leader of Manchester City Council since 2021 and worked closely with Burnham. In a statement, Burnham called his nearly nine-year tenure an 'immense privilege' and said Craig would ensure 'every town, every borough' shares in the region's success.
Burnham said: 'After years working alongside Bev Craig, I have no doubt that she will work every single day to build on the progress we’ve all made together. Bev will focus on putting more money in your pocket, giving families more breathing space on the cost of living and making sure young people across every borough have the opportunities they need to thrive.'
Other candidates
Other candidates include Reform's Sian Astley, Lib Dem Richard Kilpatrick, Conservative Phil Eckersley, Green Geraldine Coggins, Restore's Nick West, and independent Nick Farmer. Coggins argued Greater Manchester needs 'full-fat devolution, not semi-skimmed', criticising Labour for being a 'developers’ paradise'. Eckersley said as a business owner and father he understands challenges facing families. West, a mental health nurse, received an 18-month suspension from the Nursing and Midwifery Council over social media comments about sexual grooming by Pakistani men. Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe called West 'the best qualified candidate for any mayoral race for a very long time'. Farmer previously stood against Burnham in 2021, receiving under 1% of the vote.
Polling details
Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday. Votes will be counted on Friday, with the result likely announced in the afternoon.
