Manchester City Council has appointed Councillor Garry Bridges as its new Leader following a special council meeting this week.
Bridges succeeds Councillor Bev Craig, who was elected Greater Manchester Mayor in July. Having served as the Council’s statutory Deputy Leader since 2024, Bridges will now assume political leadership of the local authority, subject to confirmation at the next full Council meeting.
As Leader, Bridges will be responsible for setting the Council’s long-term strategic direction, overseeing Manchester’s programme of inclusive growth and leading the Executive team. He will also act as the city’s representative at regional, national and international levels.
A longstanding advocate for children and young people, Bridges has made improving life chances a central focus of his political career.
Before becoming Deputy Leader, he served as Executive Member for Children and Schools, helping to oversee major improvements in Manchester’s children’s services, which are now rated Outstanding by Ofsted. His tenure included support for free school meals during the pandemic, council tax exemptions for care leavers and leadership of Manchester’s successful Year of the Child programme, which contributed to the city securing UNICEF Child Friendly City status.
The father of two young children, Bridges has frequently highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation through education, skills and employment support.
Since becoming Deputy Leader in 2024, Bridges has played a leading role across several major policy areas, including regeneration, culture, community cohesion and partnership working across Greater Manchester.
First elected as councillor for Old Moat ward in 2015, he brings more than a decade of local government experience to the role. He has also represented Manchester on regional and national organisations, including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Local Government Association.
His perspective has been shaped by his upbringing in a council home in Smethwick, where he saw first-hand how education and skills development helped his parents build their careers while raising a family. He has said that creating similar opportunities for Manchester residents remains a key priority.
Before entering senior local government leadership, Bridges worked in retail and call centre roles after moving to Manchester to study. He later worked alongside MPs in several roles, gaining experience supporting residents and communities across the city.
Cllr Bridges said:
“I’m honoured to be chosen as the new Leader of Manchester City Council. I promise to give my all to the city I love, on behalf of everyone who calls Manchester home.
“Manchester is an incredible place to be, and we’ve shown what it’s possible to achieve in a city, with our economy growing well above the national rate.
“We’ve done this through a clear strategy and our manifesto that puts our city first. For most of that time we’ve achieved this with our hands tied behind our backs, with a series of governments making things more difficult.
“Despite what we’ve achieved, there is much more to do. A growing economy must benefit the people who live in our city.
“We’ve made progress but too many people struggle to pay their bills, to get affordable housing or to get the skills they need to secure the jobs they want.
“Working with the new Prime Minister and the new Greater Manchester Mayor, putting this right is my top priority.
“Our social house building programme is the biggest in decades but we’ll be making the case to the new Government that we can – and must – build more.
“At a time when the country sees so much division and bad political actors looking to create more, I’m determined that Manchester continues to be built on tolerance, respect and shared civic pride in the city we love. There’s a lot to do to make that a reality and I’ll work with all communities to that end.
“We want our city to be a place where young people grow up with hope and aspiration that they can be whatever they want, right here in our city. We want the jobs of the future to be created here, and for them to be able to afford to stay and put down roots in a city which is affordable and liveable. We’re attracting huge numbers of jobs, and we need to make sure our residents are first in line to get those opportunities.
“Throughout austerity, the people of Manchester put up with a lot. Poverty skyrocketed and public services faced cut upon cut. Now our budgets are beginning to see improvement, I’m determined that people also see improvements in the things they rely on – from services that care for vulnerable residents, to running their parks and libraries and emptying their bins.
“I want Mancunians to know that the Council I lead is on their side and the future we’re looking to create is one they all share in. I look forward to the challenges ahead.”
Image credit: iStock
