Bev Craig vows to build a Greater Manchester ‘that works for everyone’, as she is announced as Labour Mayoral candidate
Labour has announced Bev Craig as its candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Bev is the current leader of Manchester City Council and Deputy Mayor for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth for GM and has promised to set out a bold vision to build on the progress made over the last decade and deliver the next chapter for the region.
A former council estate kid whose family endured unemployment, ill health and financial hardship, Bev said Greater Manchester transformed her life after she moved to the city-region at 18.
Now, after 15 years of delivering for local communities, leading Manchester City Council, and fighting for Greater Manchester she says she wants to ensure every person, every community, and every borough shares in Greater Manchester’s success.
Bev has vowed to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone – with cheaper travel, more council and affordable homes, safer neighbourhoods, thriving high streets supported by a new High Streets fund and world-class opportunities for people in every borough.
Bev Craig, Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“Greater Manchester is a special place – from the industrial revolution, the trade union and cooperative 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.
“While Westminster left places like ours behind, Greater Manchester has taken control of our own future and we’ve started building our own success.
“Working alongside former Mayor Andy Burnham, we have achieved so much over the – bringing buses back under public control, creating jobs, attracting investment, and pushing Greater Manchester forward as a real powerhouse of the North West.
“But for too many people, who work hard and do the right thing, life still feels too hard and unaffordable. As Mayor I will apply a simple test: will it make life better?
“I will work every day for us to make sure everyone shares in the success Greater Manchester is building – making sure there’s more money in people’s pockets, pride in every town centre with a New High Streets Fund, a new generation of council and affordable homes and an expanded Bee Network that freezes fares and that works for all of us.
“That’s why I’m standing to be Mayor – to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone.”
Bev enters the race with one of the strongest records of delivery in local government:
As Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev she has overseen the highest level of council and affordable housebuilding in a generation, reduced homelessness while it has risen elsewhere, secured an Outstanding Ofsted rating for Children’s Services, supported families through the cost-of-living crisis and helped drive economic growth that has created thousands of jobs.
As lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth she’s spearheaded the Good Growth Fund and worked on Mayoral Development Corporations for towns and areas across Greater Manchester from Atom Valley to Old Trafford to help create tens of thousands of jobs, or revitalise town centres like Middleton, Prestwich and Stockport.
Bev has negotiated with international companies to protect existing jobs and bring new ones right across the city-region and has led on the economic strategy that’s delivered the highest levels of economic growth in the country and reduced deprivation in inner Manchester.