Manchester Evening News
·Jul 2026
The Mayor's In-Tray: The Seven Maps That Show the Challenges Facing Bev Craig as Andy Burnham's Successor
Bev Craig inherits a more powerful and prosperous Greater Manchester after Andy Burnham's eight years as mayor, but the region's progress has been highly uneven. Income gaps persist within and between boroughs, deprivation has worsened sharply in parts of Oldham, child poverty affects 28% of children, house prices have surged, and rough sleeping and temporary accommodation remain significant problems. The article argues that Craig must spread economic gains beyond the city centre while managing challenges whose main drivers—including welfare, taxation, housing supply and local-government finance—remain controlled by Westminster. Her mandate may also be weakened by a historically low 25.14% turnout.