𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Labour Party has confirmed their candidate to submit into the Greater Manchester mayoral election to replace Andy Burnham. Both the Green Party and Restore Britain have also submitted candidates in a bid to win the mayoral seat for the first time in their parties’ history.

Burnham departed the mayoral role after successfully launching a bid to return to the Houses of Parliament, winning 54.8% of the vote at a by-election in Makerfield. Reform UK also ran a candidate in the by-election, Robert Kenyon, who received 34.5% of the vote.

Bev Craig has been confirmed as the Labour Party’s candidate, BBC News reported. The Manchester City Council leader has also served as the deputy mayor for economy, business and inclusive growth on the region’s combined authority.

She said: “Greater Manchester is a special place – from the Industrial Revolution, the trade union and co-operative 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 the Reform Party is yet to field a candidate for the ballot, they have previously performed well in council elections.

The party performed particularly well in the Greater Manchester area. Reform UK won 106 seats in the area’s 10 local authorities, including 18 out of 19 contested in Tameside, 24 out of 25 in Wigan and seven on Manchester city council.

Nigel Farage’s party has not yet named its candidate but the frontrunner is Dan Barker, a nuclear industry project manager who came fourth with 7.5% of the vote in the 2024 mayoral election, according to The Guardian.

Burnham, the recently elected Makerfield MP, has been tipped as the successor to Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister resigned from his post yesterday morning (June 22).

He said: “But I know the question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour Party, to take us into power, and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people. Those questions have been answered.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace.

“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.

“I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable with nominations opening on 9 July and completed by the summer recess. In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September.

“I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete. And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.”