The Labour council leader is hoping to succeed former mayor Andy Burnham, who on Monday returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, and hopes to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.
Ms Craig, who has long been tipped as Labour’s candidate for the mayoralty, currently serves as a deputy mayor in Greater Manchester with a portfolio covering the economy, business and “inclusive growth”.
Business leader Lou Cordwell, leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig and then-mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in 2023 (Peter Byrne/PA)
She became leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021, succeeding the long-serving Sir Richard Leese in the post.
Originally from Northern Ireland, 41-year-old Ms Craig moved to Greater Manchester aged 18.
She is the city’s first female council leader and its first LGBT leader.
Labour pointed to her experience as deputy mayor as it announced her as its candidate, pointing to work she had done to attract international businesses to the city region, as well as her work overseeing the construction of affordable housing as leader of Manchester City Council.
Ms Craig said: “Greater Manchester is a special place – from the industrial revolution, the trade union and cooperative movements and the suffragettes – this place has always fought for progress.
“This place changed my life and I owe it everything, it gave me opportunities I could never have imagined, and I’ve spent my career trying to give something back.
“While Westminster left places like ours behind, Greater Manchester has taken control of our own future and we’ve started building our own success.
“Working alongside former mayor Andy Burnham, we have achieved so much over the (years) – bringing buses back under public control, creating jobs, attracting investment, and pushing Greater Manchester forward as a real powerhouse of the North West.
“But for too many people, who work hard and do the right thing, life still feels too hard and unaffordable.
“As mayor I will apply a simple test: will it make life better?”
She added: “I will work every day for us to make sure everyone shares in the success Greater Manchester is building – making sure there’s more money in people’s pockets, pride in every town centre with a New High Streets Fund, a new generation of council and affordable homes and an expanded Bee Network that freezes fares and that works for all of us.
“That’s why I’m standing to be mayor – to build a Greater Manchester that works for everyone.”
Two other political parties have announced their candidates for the mayoral race.
Geraldine Coggins, a Trafford councillor, is the Green candidate.
Marlon West, a campaigner against sexual abuse, is the Restore Britain candidate.