‘I’ll build on the work Andy did and make sure every young person has the careers advice, work placements and pathway to help them get a successful job’, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor candidate Bev Craig writes
This Thursday, the people of Greater Manchester will take part in the biggest by-election our country has ever seen.
The choice is clear: either we choose to make things easier and cheaper for all of us, or we give power to those who want to spend their time trying to divide us.
I firmly believe that on Thursday we will choose to move forward together and build a future that works for us all. In Greater Manchester we’ve always forged our own path.
It’s no accident that we’re the home of the industrial revolution, the trade union and cooperative movements, the suffragettes and the fight for equal rights.
We have led the fight back from the de-industrialisation that left many of our communities abandoned. But despite boasting the fastest economic growth in the country, too many people still feel that life is too hard.
That’s why I’ve set myself a simple test if I become Mayor – every decision I make will make life cheaper and easier for us all. I’ll start by putting more money in people’s pockets with free bus travel for all 11–18-year-olds – saving families £500 a year and sending a clear message that every young person here can go wherever they want to go.
The success of Greater Manchester depends on us all feeling the benefits, and too often people see the success of Greater Manchester but they don’t feel it. That’s why Andy Burnham and I set up the Good Growth Fund to help spread growth to every postcode. While he works to do this across the country as Prime Minister, I’ll make it happen here as Mayor.
Good growth isn’t a slogan, it’s about well paid, secure jobs and restoring pride in your town centre. As Mayor, I’ll build on the work Andy did and make sure every young person has the careers advice, work placements and pathway to help them get a successful job. I’ll also use the money that’s being generated by the growth in our city centre and use it to create a Hight Streets Fund so all our town centres can get back their sense of pride. I’ll crack down on the vape shops and dodgy businesses blighting communities and back the local independents that light up our high streets.
I’m taking on the fight against grievance and division with a positive, optimistic campaign of the can-do attitude of this place. Radical and realistic, because you beat divisive populism by delivering more money in people’s pockets and hope of a better future.
With Andy in No10 (North!), me as Mayor and the spirit of this place, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
‘A new generation of council housing’
I grew up in a council house and when times got tough, having a secure roof over my head was a literal lifeline for me and my family. But today, too many people just aren’t able to get a good, secure home they can afford.
As Leader of Manchester I set out to change that. Last year we built more council and social homes than in the last 25 years and as Mayor I’d go even further.
I’ll build a new generation of council housing, 50,000 homes across all our boroughs that everyone can afford.
A new generation of council homes helping our next generation succeed. I’m proud Andy Burnham is backing my plans and as Prime Minister is just as committed to building council homes, so people have the same security I had growing up.
‘Parkrun in every borough’
I’m running for Mayor, literally. As part of my campaign, I’m doing a Parkrun in every borough of Greater Manchester. A shout out to all the amazing volunteers that keep our sports and running clubs alive.
I have loved being joined by loads of supporters, the odd Secretary of State and even the new Prime Minister! I have strict rules for politicians though, no short shorts allowed!
‘We need a Mayor who stands up for ordinary people’
With such a big by-election, all indications are it could be close. The first poll had Labour on 33 and Reform on 30. Just because there’s a bin fight happening down south, please don’t think that your vote won’t matter. We need a Mayor with a track record of standing up for ordinary people and getting stuff done.