All articles tagged with #greater manchester
Greater Manchester's new Labour mayor Bev Craig says Prime Minister Andy Burnham's plan to devolve income tax powers to mayors could change our lives as she secures the Makerfield by-election victory; she pledges to freeze Metrolink and Bee Network bus fares, extend free bus travel to 11–18-year-olds, and deliver 50,000 new homes, with turnout under 25%.
Bev Craig has been elected as Greater Manchester’s new mayor, succeeding Andy Burnham after he became prime minister. The Labour candidate won with 309,525 votes to Reform’s Sian Astley’s 157,178. Craig, a longtime Manchester City Council leader and former deputy mayor, vows to deliver the region’s next chapter, including 50,000 new homes over 15 years, freezing Metrolink and Bee Network fares, extending free bus travel to 11–18-year-olds, and backing town-centre regeneration and social care improvements.
Labour’s Bev Craig has been elected Greater Manchester’s new mayor, succeeding Andy Burnham after a by-election triggered by his move to Parliament. Craig led the first round with 46.5% of votes and, after counting second-preference votes, defeated Reform UK’s Sian Astley 309,525 to 157,178; turnout was just under 25% across ten boroughs. A former Manchester City Council leader and GMCA deputy mayor for economy, she pledged to defend the city region and push for a better life for residents.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 across Greater Manchester for a new mayoral election triggered by Andy Burnham’s resignation; seven candidates are standing, and voters will use the supplementary vote (first and optional second choice). Polls close at 22:00, with counting starting Friday and the GMCA coordinating the tally to determine the winner.
A number of Google Maps route searches into Greater Manchester showed a false Clean Air Zone warning, including a claimed daily charge for non-compliant vehicles, despite the CAZ being scrapped. Google says the issue is known and a fix is being rolled out; the alert only appears for routes starting outside GM and did not appear in other map apps. The warning referenced an older 2021 article, and GM officials emphasized the CAZ plans were abandoned in favor of cleaner transport investments.
Teachers at two primary schools in Greater Manchester are striking over concerns about violence, assaults, and safety issues, with staff reporting frequent incidents of pupils biting, kicking, and bringing knives to school, which they say are being ignored by school leadership. The union claims that unsafe conditions and lack of action have led to multiple strike days in January, while the school trust emphasizes their commitment to safety and willingness to discuss concerns. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in managing school safety and staff wellbeing.