Bev Craig has won the by-election for Greater Manchester mayor, securing 309,525 votes and succeeding Andy Burnham, who stepped down to run in the Makerfield by-election. Reform's Sian Astley received 157,178 votes.
Craig, a Labour candidate, expressed optimism about the potential impact of new powers being transferred from central government to regional leaders. "For a prime minister two weeks in, to start giving powers out of Whitehall and putting it in the places that can make a difference - that can change our lives," Craig stated. She committed to leveraging the authority offered to mayors like herself to foster regional improvement.
"I will rise to his challenge about taking the power and control that he is offering mayors like me to make our regions better," Craig said. "Because that is what it is all about."
Craig and Burnham appeared together at a Labour rally in Manchester following her election win. The new mayor is 41 years old.