Andy Burnham has called on his successor as Greater Manchester mayor, Bev Craig, to expand on his achievements by accelerating regional growth, increasing affordable housing, and enhancing technical education opportunities. Ms. Craig, a Labour candidate, won a by-election described as the largest in British history, securing the position after Mr. Burnham’s tenure.

At a victory event held alongside Ms. Craig, the UK Prime Minister highlighted plans to devolve more powers from Westminster and urged the new mayor to leverage these opportunities for the benefit of Greater Manchester. Addressing Ms. Craig, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of advancing initiatives such as the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate, which aims to enhance vocational education for young people. He described Ms. Craig as “the right person to lead this great city region forward into its best decade ever,” and referred to her as the “queen of the north” in recognition of her role.

Ms. Craig acknowledged the public’s support as a mandate to continue building on the legacy established by Mr. Burnham. She also stated a commitment to overcoming social and political divisions within Greater Manchester, reflecting a desire to promote unity across local communities.

The transition marks a continuation of Labour leadership in the region, with expectations that the new administration will pursue expanded regional autonomy, housing development, and educational reforms. The context of the by-election and subsequent remarks by national leaders underscore ongoing efforts to devolve authority and empower city regions to address their unique challenges and opportunities.