Manchester mayoral byelection pits Labour’s Bev Craig against Reform UK and the Greens

Voters in Greater Manchester will choose a new mayor this Thursday, the biggest byelection in British political history. Labour’s Bev Craig is the frontrunner, with two polls showing a clear lead over Reform UK, while the Green Party is projected in third place. The contest follows Andy Burnham’s move to Westminster after winning the Makerfield byelection, leaving the mayoral authority—responsible for a £3 billion budget and powers over housing, health, policing and transport—open.

The Guardian

Born in Greenisland, Northern Ireland, Craig moved to Manchester in 2003. After studying politics and history at the University of Manchester, she was elected a city-council councillor in 2011, became council leader at 36—the first woman in the role—and served as Burnham’s economic adviser. If elected, she would become the most powerful Labour woman outside Westminster. Craig has declined to stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection, describing the mayoralty as “the dream job” and pledging to seek a full term again in 2028.

The Guardian

Labour’s advantage is challenged by Reform UK, which captured a council seat in Brooklands by eight votes, and by the Greens, who secured 17 % of the vote in a recent YouGov poll. Party insiders note a large number of undecided voters, making the final week of campaigning crucial.

The Guardian

Both Reform UK and the Greens have pledged high-street investment, affordable-housing programmes, cost-of-living relief and crime reduction.

The Guardian

• “There are still a large number of voters who are undecided, so there is everything to play for as we continue to ramp up our campaign in the final week.” — Prof Rob Ford, of the University of Manchester’s politics department

The Guardian

• “What I would like to see is fairness across the board, that we don’t just focus on the centre of Manchester,” — Crosby. In, councillor

The Guardian