Labour’s Bev Craig elected mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeding new UK PM Andy Burnham

LONDON - Britain’s ruling Labour Party comfortably retained the mayoralty of northern Greater Manchester on Aug 1, following an election triggered by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament.Bev Craig, currently the leader of Manchester City Council, was elected in a second round of counting after winning 47.15 per cent of the votes in the first round, just shy of the 50 per cent needed to win outright.The anti-immigration Reform UK party, which has been riding high in national polls, came in second place with 21 per cent.In the second round, Labour gained over 58,000 more votes when second preferences of eliminated candidates were taken into account, with Reform picking up 45,250 more votes, according to results published on the mayoral website.Craig ended up with 309,525 fi