Bev Craig has been elected the new Mayor of Greater Manchester for the Labour Party, winning 66.3 per cent of the final vote in a ballot that saw a turnout of just 25.14 per cent.

The Manchester City Council leader succeeded former mayor Andy Burnham, who stepped down to become an MP after winning the Makerfield by-election on June 18, a move which would clear the way for him to become Prime Minister.

Craig defeated Reform UK's Sian Astley, who won 157,178 first and second round votes. The other candidates were the Green Party's Geraldine Coggins with 64,968 votes, Restore Britain's Marlon Scott West with 46,289, Conservative Phil Eckersley with 41,021, the Liberal Democrats' Richard Kilpatrick with 14,702, and independent Marcus Farmer with 2,969 votes.

In her victory speech, Craig said: "To have trust placed in you is an honour. I'm honoured. I'm humbled. And I stand ready to serve the 3 million people that live across this fantastic city region. And I will serve every single one of them, every single day." She added, "every single decision I take, as your Mayor of Greater Manchester, will pass the test of making your life better."

The role of Mayor of Greater Manchester involves leading the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which controls the region's housing, transport, funding, economy, and emergency services. Council leaders from across Greater Manchester, including for Oldham and Tameside, have their own seat on the GMCA and work with the mayor.

Craig, who was awarded an OBE in January 2026 for services to local government, has outlined several policy commitments. These include extending free bus passes to 11 to 18-year-olds, a pledge to build 50,000 new social, council, and affordable homes, and a £20 million investment into town centre and high street regeneration projects.

Former Oldham mayor Arooj Shah, who supported Craig's campaign, said she was hopeful about the new mayor's plans. "Oldham's the kind of place where you feel like you're always kneeling down with your cap in hand," she said. "But the reality is that we've had some great, great accomplishments through the Combined Authority. I think Bev will continue to build on that."

The newly elected mayor also said she would establish a commission on rent controls and provide tailored support for people experiencing homelessness. She stressed her commitment to addressing challenges like the cost of living crisis, crime rate, and access to the NHS.