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New Greater Manchester Mayor stands firm on trans rights

Thursday, 27 August 2026 20:53

By Kriss Herbert

Bev Craig tells audience she takes it as a "badge of honour" that the Telegraph keeps asking about her views on trans people, vowing the region will "stand with every single bit" of the LGBTQ+ community.

Greater Manchester's new mayor Bev Craig, told the crowd at the cities Civic Reception for Manchester Village Pride she wears it as a "badge of honour" that the Telegraph repeatedly questions her about trans people, saying her views have not changed.

Craig was elected to lead the city region on 31 July, securing 309,525 first and second preference votes. She became Manchester City Council's first female and LGBT leader in 2021.

Speaking at a reception to launch Manchestyer Village Pride 2026, Craig said she was "elected being a mayor for everyone, but I wasn't prepared to throw anyone under the bus along the way."

She spoke about how progress for LGBTQ+ communities isn't always linear. "Too many in our community have felt it themselves, that you believed that progress was this linear thing, that things would always get better," she said.

"I think we stand at the moment where we realise as we look across the world that progress isn't always linear. And that sometimes it will need some of us to step up, to put our heads above the parapet, and to be unequivocal as to what we're for and who we're for."

Craig said the Telegraph has been asking "nearly every single day what I think about trans people" but added: "My views have not changed."

"This is a region that is open to everyone and we stand with every single bit of our LGBT+ community," she said.

Craig replaced Andy Burnham as mayor last month after he left to become prime minister. During her campaign, she refused to back away from her previous statement that "trans women are women, trans men are men", despite pressure from some outlets.

The mayor has responsibilities including transport, housing and attracting investment across the ten Greater Manchester boroughs.