// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Greater Manchester mayor says Burnham's new powers will change lives
The by-election was called after Andy Burnham was elected as MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester in June
Greater Manchester's new mayor Bev Craig has said Prime Minister Andy Burnham's move to give the regions more power could "change our lives".
The Labour candidate claimed victory in Thursday's by-election after securing 309,525 votes over Reform's Sian Astley, who won 157,178.
The 41-year-old will succeed Burnham as mayor, after he stood down to run in the Makerfield by-election in June. The pair appeared together at a Labour rally in Manchester after Craig's election win.
Craig said: "For a prime minister two weeks in, to start giving powers out of Whitehall and putting it in the places that can make a difference - that can change our lives."
She added: "I will rise to his challenge about taking the power and control that he is offering mayors like me to make our regions better.
Burnham has said he would give all mayors of city regions in England a share of income tax revenue for the first time, as part of his drive to transfer power from Westminster to local leaders.
Opposition parties said the plans lacked detail and could lead to areas with weaker economies losing out on funding.
Bur Craig said she was "excited" about the challenge and would not "stop at the levels of growth that we have achieved".
She said she wanted to make "every kid" in Greater Manchester "feel they can succeed".