A by-election is expected in Greater Manchester after the city’s deputy mayor announced she was stepping down and is set to be replaced by Labour MP Kate Green.
Ms Green, who is the MP for Stretford and Urmston, had previously announced she would be standing down as an MP at the next general election, which is due in January 2025.
But it has now been announced she will replace Baroness Bev Hughes, who has been Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire since 2017.
Baroness Hughes, who was MP for Stretford and Urmston from 1997 to 2010, said on Wednesday she will step down from the role “early in the new year” and will support her predecessor “in a transitional period”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham put forward Ms Green to succeed her, and the Labour MP has accepted the nomination.
If Ms Green is approved as deputy mayor by the police, fire and crime panel as expected, it will trigger a by-election in Stretford and Urmston.
The seat, in the southwest of Greater Manchester, is a Labour stronghold that Ms Green won with 60.3% of the vote in 2019.
A Labour Party source confirmed to Sky News there will be a by-election but timings have not yet been confirmed.
Baroness Hughes said it had been a “privilege” to work with the mayoral team and Mr Burnham, and said two weeks after she started the Manchester Arena terror attack happened, which has been her main focus.
She said she has been proud to have helped bring in a new chief fire officer and help improve problems at Greater Manchester Police after the Kerslake Review into the emergency response to the attack exposed “major failings in the emergency services at the time”.
Manchester terror attack: Response ‘inadequate’
Mr Burnham said he is confident Ms Green has the “calibre, character and values” to follow in Baroness Hughes’ footsteps, after he said the deputy mayor had given “an incredible career of service” to Greater Manchester.
When Ms Green announced she would not be standing again as an MP, she said it was “the right time for me to move on to new experiences and opportunities”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer threw his support behind Ms Green in her new role.
“Kate Green has been a tireless advocate for the people of Stretford and Urmston for 12 years,” he said.
“As the next deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, she will continue to deliver for her local community.
“Kate, I look forward to working with you in your new role.”