Bev Craig Leads the Race to Succeed Burnham in Manchester
Labour’s Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Andy Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester, the post he vacated on becoming Prime Minister. A by-election for the high-profile mayoralty is expected in the autumn. Whoever wins inherits a role Mr Burnham used to build a national platform.
The Greater Manchester mayoralty has become one of the most powerful devolved offices in England, with sway over transport, housing and policing, and Mr Burnham turned it into a springboard to Downing Street. Ms Craig, who would be the first woman to hold the post, is seen as the favourite for Labour’s nomination, though the contest is not yet formally under way. Reform UK and the Conservatives will seek to test Labour’s grip on the city-region. The result will be an early gauge of the new government’s standing. Watch for the timing of the by-election and the candidates who enter.