Skip to content

'NI upbringing shaped my non-tribal politics' - new Manchester mayor

Brendan HughesPolitical reporter, BBC News NI
PA Media A woman with short dark hair giving a speech, she has glasses and is wearing a cream blazer and white topPA Media
Bev Craig grew up in Greenisland outside Belfast

The new Mayor of Greater Manchester has said her Northern Ireland upbringing has shaped how she views politics "in a non-tribal way".

Bev Craig won last week's by-election in the city region to succeed Andy Burnham as mayor after he stepped down to run for Westminster and become prime minister.

The Labour politician grew up in Greenisland outside Belfast before moving to Manchester for university.

Craig said her family in Northern Ireland were "incredibly proud".

The 41-year-old said growing up on a council estate helped shape her outlook on politics.

"I think it's also shaped my ability to work with people and shaped how I view politics in a non-tribal way," she added.

"Because my experience growing up in Northern Ireland is that you find allies in unexpected places."

She said she wanted to be a "mayor for everyone".

"Northern Ireland has taught me that sometimes to break division, to break through cynicism and barriers, you've got to look for those allies in unexpected places and find common ground."

Craig, a former pupil of Belfast High School, moved to Manchester in 2003 to study politics and modern history at the University of Manchester.

"It was only really as I got older and as I went to university that I realised that we didn't have much money and we didn't have the same opportunities as people," she said.

"And I think that's really shaped my political journey and why I'm in politics."

She said she grew up in a "proud community", but it was in Manchester where she found "a sense of home and belonging that I just didn't feel in Northern Ireland".

"My mum always watches the news to see if anything's happened, and my two sisters and nephew are really proud," she added.

"I lost my dad just over a year ago and I'm sure he'd be incredibly proud.

"But they also keep me grounded."

She added: "I've got some cousins that firmly keep my feet on the floor, and I'm sure my mum wouldn't be too shy in telling me if I've got ideas above my station."