Greater Manchester’s mayor Bev Craig says PM’s new powers will change lives

The prime minister said Manchesterism was about “devolution” and “taking control of things that affect people’s daily lives, such as housing, building more homes that people can truly afford and the buses”.

“We want everyone in Greater Manchester facing the same way, pulling in the same way,” he said.

“It is a different way of doing things.”

More than two million people across Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs were eligible to vote in the mayoral contest but turnout was just under 25%.

Reform’s Astley said after her defeat: “I’m really proud of our campaign, of getting out there, working with all the branches and councillors to try and get people motivated to get out and vote.”

She added “we’ll be watching to see if all those pledges made during the campaign are delivered”.

Craig grew up on a council estate in Belfast, but moved to Manchester in 2003 at the age of 18 to study politics and modern history at the University of Manchester.