Manchester council has made history by electing an openly gay councillor and an elected member of Bangladeshi heritage to serve as its deputy leaders.
Councillor Bev Craig and Councillor Luthfur Rahman were elected by the council’s Labour group at a meeting on Monday night.
Their appointments will be confirmed at an annual meeting of the full council tomorrow (Wednesday) with an executive reshuffle also expected to be signed off.
They will succeed Nigel Murphy, who did not stand in this year’s elections after being deselected by Labour, and Sue Murphy, who died in April 2020.
Coun Craig has played a key role in Manchester’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic as executive member for adult health and wellbeing.
The first in the family to go to the university, she moved to Manchester from Northern Ireland in 2003.
She ‘quickly fell in love with the place’ and made it her home.
“Growing up gay, on a council estate just outside Belfast, I didn’t ever think politics could be for someone like me,” said Coun Craig, who was first elected to represent Burnage in 2011.
“It’s a testament to our city that diversity really is our strength. I want our future generations to know that you can thrive and succeed no matter your background.
(Image: Manchester City Council)
“Over the last year as I led our city’s public health and community response to Covid, I have been in awe of the resilience of Manchester people and the strength of our communities.
“Coming out of the crisis the city has challenges ahead, we need new ideas to solve new problems to make sure we continue on our journey to making Manchester a world class city.
“A city that puts people at its heart, with an economy that works for everyone and a sustainable future.
“I’m excited to work with my Manchester Labour colleagues and Manchester residents to make that happen.”
Coun Rahman, who has represented his home ward of Longsight since 2008, also emerged as a prominent figure in a year which saw him awarded an OBE for services to local government.
But he also describes as ‘one of the most challenging of my life’, adding: “My brother and I became seriously ill with Covid-19, and we also lost our beloved mother.
(Image: Manchester City Council)
“As I take up this new role I will do everything I can to honour her legacy, and devote all of my effort and energy to supporting Manchester recover from this pandemic.”
During the pandemic the executive member for skills, culture and leisure lobbied the government for more funding to support Manchester’s cultural sector.
After becoming the lead member for homelessness he also led a drive for donations to Big Change, a fund aimed at helping some of Manchester’s most vulnerable people.
Coun Rahman said: “Growing up in a working-class family in Longsight it’s hard to express what it means to become the first Bangladeshi heritage councillor elected to the role of deputy leader.
“This is one of the proudest moments of my life and I would like to thank my colleagues on the Council, as well as the people of Manchester who for the past 13 years have put their trust in me as their elected member.
“I want this to be an example to every young person living in this city that no matter your background or where you come from anything is possible. I am truly humbled.
“As deputy leader I will bring the same drive and ambition that I have shown as a member for culture and leisure, as well as a track record of improving the lives of Mancunians.”
