Bev Craig Launches “A Greater Manchester for Us” Manifesto 2026

Key Points

• Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has launched her 2026 manifesto, Delivering a Greater Manchester for Us, setting out an ambitious plan to make life more affordable, build thousands of genuinely affordable homes, restore pride in town centres, and ensure every community shares in the region’s success.
• Core measures include freezing Bee Network fares, extending free bus travel to all 11–18-year-olds, and lifting the 09:30 concessionary travel restriction for disabled and older people.
• Craig pledges to deliver 50,000 council and genuinely affordable homes, with priority for Greater Manchester residents where local funding is used.
• A new “Youth Promise” and “Family of Schools” initiative aim to improve education outcomes and create training and apprenticeship pathways for young people.
• Tenants’ rights will be strengthened through a proposed commission on rent controls, alongside support for people sleeping rough.
• Town centres will benefit from a £20 million Good Growth High Street Fund and an expanded Good Growth Fund to support small businesses and regeneration.
• Community safety will be boosted by expanding neighbourhood policing, creating a unit focused on antisocial behaviour, increasing CCTV, and improving lighting.
• Craig emphasises using all devolved powers to put more money in people’s pockets and create opportunities for every young person.
• The manifesto launch underscored Labour’s commitment to making devolution work for ordinary people across all boroughs.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) July 15, 2026 – Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has officially launched her 2026 manifesto, Delivering a Greater Manchester for Us, setting out an ambitious plan to make life more affordable, build thousands of genuinely affordable homes, restore pride in town centres, and ensure every community shares in Greater Manchester’s success.

The manifesto outlines a fully-costed, deliverable programme built around key priorities including freezing Bee Network fares, extending free bus travel to every 11 to 18-year-old, delivering 50,000 council and genuinely affordable homes, expanding neighbourhood policing, backing local high streets and creating a Youth Promise so no young person is left behind. As reported by the Manchester Mirror, Craig stated that her campaign is about making devolution work for ordinary people by putting more money in people’s pockets, creating opportunities for every young person and ensuring every borough benefits from Greater Manchester’s growth.

As Mayor, Craig said she will use every power available to put money into residents’ pockets, including freezing bus and Metrolink fares beyond December and extending free tickets to 16 to 18-year-olds, saving families and young people up to £20 a week. Labour also plans to lift the 09:30 restriction on concessionary travel for disabled and older people, allowing them to use their concessionary tickets earlier in the day, as outlined in Craig’s manifesto and reported by the Manchester Mirror.

How Will the Manifesto Make Life More Affordable for Greater Manchester Residents?

Bev Craig’s affordability plan centres on transport costs and direct financial support for families. As reported by the Manchester Mirror, the manifesto commits to freezing bus and Metrolink fares beyond December and extending free travel to 16 to 18-year-olds, which is projected to save families and young people up to £20 a week.

In addition, Labour will lift the 09:30 restriction on concessionary travel for disabled and older people, allowing them to use their concessionary tickets earlier in the day, as outlined in Craig’s manifesto and reported by the Manchester Mirror. These measures are designed to reduce everyday costs for households already facing pressure from inflation and rising living costs.

What Housing and Education Measures Are Included in the Plan?

Craig’s housing strategy aims to tackle the region’s housing crisis by delivering 50,000 new council and genuinely affordable homes, with priority given to Greater Manchester residents for homes built with local funding, according to the Manchester Mirror’s report of the manifesto. She said she will stand up for renters, including by establishing a commission on rent controls, and work to ensure people sleeping rough can access the housing and support they need.

On education, the manifesto proposes introducing baby boxes from birth, establishing a new Greater Manchester Family of Schools to bring schools together and improve results, and providing joined-up support through training and apprenticeships to help young people find the right career for them, as reported by the Manchester Mirror. These steps are framed as part of a wider “Youth Promise” to ensure no young person is left behind.

How Does the Manifesto Aim to Boost Town Centres and Community Safety?

To bring pride to every town centre, Craig plans to expand the Good Growth Fund so that every borough sees the gains and every community sees the benefit, with a new £20 million Good Growth High Street Fund to support small businesses, bring empty units back into use and drive town centre regeneration, according to the Manchester Mirror.

On safety, Labour will deliver more neighbourhood police officers and create a new unit focused on tackling antisocial behaviour, alongside a Neighbourhood Guarantee that brings together Greater uk/police/">Manchester Police, councils and housing providers to take faster action, plus more CCTV and better lighting in areas where people feel least safe, as reported by the Manchester Mirror.

What Did Bev Craig Say at the Manifesto Launch?

Speaking at the launch, Bev Craig said: “I stand before you with a promise and a plan. A plan both radical and realistic – because I don’t believe in making promises you can’t deliver, and I have the track record to get it done. And a simple promise, I know what it’s like to struggle, to fight and I’ll fight for you – to make the lives better of every resident in every borough. We are a proud region, and now is our moment to build a Greater Manchester that fights for us, that works for us and creates a future… for all of us,” as quoted by the Manchester Mirror.

Background: Devolution, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the 2026 Election Context

Greater Manchester became one of the first English regions to elect a directly elected mayor under devolution arrangements introduced in the mid-2010s, with the mayor holding powers over transport, some housing functions, and certain economic development tools. The role has been seen as a key test of whether devolution can deliver tangible benefits for ordinary residents across multiple boroughs.

Bev Craig, a long-serving Labour councillor and former chair of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is running as Labour’s candidate in the 2026 mayoral election, with her manifesto positioning her as someone who can translate devolved powers into practical improvements in affordability, housing, education and safety. The 2026 contest is being viewed as critical for Labour’s broader strategy in northern England and for the future shape of devolution in the region.

Prediction: How Could This Development Affect Greater Manchester Residents and Young People?

If implemented, Craig’s manifesto measures could significantly reduce transport costs for families and young people, potentially freeing up household income for other essentials such as food, heating and education-related costs. The extension of free bus travel to all 11–18-year-olds, combined with fare freezes, could increase mobility for students and improve access to jobs, training and social activities, particularly for those in lower-income households.

The housing and education proposals could have longer-term effects on opportunity and inequality. Delivering 50,000 affordable homes, prioritising local residents, and introducing rent control mechanisms could help stabilise the rental market and reduce pressure on young people and low-income families trying to enter the housing market. Similarly, the Family of Schools initiative and Youth Promise could improve educational outcomes and career pathways, potentially raising employment rates and reducing youth disadvantage across the region.

However, the extent of these impacts will depend on funding, delivery capacity and political support beyond the mayor’s office. If the necessary resources and cooperation are secured, the manifesto could mark a significant shift toward a more affordable, inclusive and opportunity-driven Greater Manchester. If they are not, many of the promises may remain aspirational, with limited real-world change for residents.