Councillor Bev Craig elected as Manchester’s new council leader

Cllr Bev Craig

Manchester City Council has selected Councillor Bev Craig to replace Sir Richard Leese – and is the first female to take up the top role.

Currently Deputy Leader, Craig has played a large role in the council’s response to the Covid crisis and was made Deputy Leader last year.

She will take up the role of council leader on 1 December.

The 36-year-old secured 51% of the vote when Manchester Labour met to select its first new leader in 25 years this evening. 

Cllr Craig has played a key role in Manchester’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic as executive member for adult health and wellbeing.

She is the first in the family to go to the university, she moved to Manchester from Northern Ireland in 2003.

During her tenure, Cllr Craig is expected to target improving Manchester’s poorest communities, while continuing to lobby central government for funds to do this. 

She was also instrumental in launching Manchester as a Real Living Wage City earlier this year.

Sir Richard Leese announced last month he was stepping down as Leader of Manchester City Council to focus on “personal priorities” over the next year including spending more time with his family and grandchildren.

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