Bev Craig

Beverley Anne Craig (born 27 January 1985) is a British Labour Co-op politician who has served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester since August 2026. Craig previously served as Leader of Manchester City Council from December 2021 to August 2026 and had represented Burnage as a councillor from 2011 to 2026. Following the disqualification of Andy Burnham as a result of his election as an MP, Craig was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester on 30 July 2026, defeating Reform UK candidate Sian Astley in the final round of the mayoral by-election. As mayor, she is an ex officio member, and chair, of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Craig is the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to lead Manchester City Council. Her election as mayor also made her the first woman elected to lead the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Britain's second openly gay directly elected metro mayor, after Andy Street.