Bev Craig outlines plans for Greater Manchester in Roch Valley Radio interview

Labour candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig has set out her vision for the city region in an interview with Roch Valley Radio, promising practical policies that she says would leave residents "better off".

Speaking during a sit-down interview in Manchester city centre, Craig discussed transport, policing, town centre regeneration, housing and opportunities for young people ahead of polling day.

Asked how voters should judge her if elected, Craig said every decision she made would be measured against a simple principle.

"It starts from a place that people see a lot of politicians and don't always know what they do that actually makes their lives better, and I want to change that," she said.

"I want to use the practical levers that I have to simply make people's lives better. Politics can make a difference, the Mayor of Greater Manchester can make a difference, and I'm here to make lives better for everyone in every borough across Greater Manchester."

Her flagship proposal remains free Bee Network bus travel for everyone aged 11 to 18 across Greater Manchester.

"It was one of the reasons that my first policy announcement would be that if I was elected there would be free bus passes for 11 to 18 year olds," Craig said.

"With one move you could put £500 into the pockets of families every single year, and you give a message to our young people that you can go wherever you want to in the city region."

Alongside transport, the Labour candidate said affordable housing, thriving town centres and opportunities for young people would form the backbone of her first 18 months in office.

A proposed £20 million High Streets Fund would support regeneration across Greater Manchester, while additional powers would be sought to tackle long-term empty buildings and developers who fail to bring sites back into use.

"I want people to feel that the High Street does lift their area," she said.

"We need to be able to do more and have more power to tackle the bad landlords and the eyesore buildings that have sat for too long."

Referring to Rochdale, Craig pointed to investment around the restored Town Hall and shopping district as an example of regeneration already taking place, but argued similar improvements should be felt in every borough.

Crime and anti-social behaviour also featured heavily during the interview.

The mayoral hopeful welcomed increased investment in Greater Manchester Police but said residents continued to tell her anti-social behaviour remained one of their biggest concerns.

"We've actually reduced serious crime in Greater Manchester, but people still don't feel safe," she said.

"I want to take action on serious crime. I want to reduce knife crime, halving it by 2030."

Craig said she wanted to introduce a neighbourhood guarantee bringing together Greater Manchester Police, councils and housing providers to respond more quickly to anti-social behaviour, while also investing in preventative services.

"Too many people tell me that anti-social behaviour is the thing that blights our lives. I don't think we've had the resource, the capacity or at times the will to take the firm action that we need."

"I'm not afraid to say that we also need to be funding more youth clubs and youth hubs and things for young people to do to keep them out of trouble. Hard on the enforcement, but also hard on the prevention."

Young people remained a recurring theme throughout the conversation, with Craig outlining plans for improved careers advice, more work placements and changes to apprenticeships through what she describes as a Greater Manchester Youth Promise.

"I want every young person to feel that they've got a clear pathway through to success in whatever form that would be, be it the traditional university route or be it straight into work," she said.

"I want them to have the aspiration that we're creating a region where the next wave of entrepreneurs in science and technology, in AI, can be Greater Manchester residents."

Asked how her leadership would differ from that of Andy Burnham, the Manchester City Council leader said she would build on what was already working while introducing her own priorities.

"I'm not the candidate that's going to come in just for self-glorification and tear up the things that work," she said.

"If things in the city region aren't broke and don't need fixing, then we focus on the things that do need fixing."

Craig also welcomed Burnham's appointment to Government, describing it as positive for both Greater Manchester and the wider north of England.

"I think it's great for the north of England and it's great for the country," she said.

With polling day approaching, the Labour candidate admitted she remained nervous about the result despite an intense campaign.

"I've entered this fight from a point at which Labour were behind in the polls nationally. The first poll that came out had me on 33, had Reform on 30."

"I've got a week to go for a tough fight, and every single time in politics you're always nervous. I'm not here to take anything for granted."

Looking ahead to what she hopes would be an 18-month term in office before the next election cycle, Craig said she wanted to be judged on whether she had delivered the commitments she was making.

"I hope in 18 months' time people will say, well actually, she wasn't lying when she said she doesn't make promises she can't deliver."