The Green candidate running to replace Andy Burnham hopes to bring a 'world class transport system' to Greater Manchester as she promises to support the extension of the Didsbury tramline into Stockport.

The race for whoever will be the next mayor of Greater Manchester is on and it is not just the weather heating things up. Three candidates have been announced so far with Geraldine Coggins being the first out of the gate for the Greens.

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig has been announced as Labour's candidate while Marlon West, a campaigner against child sexual exploitation, has been chosen as Restore Britain's candidate. Voters will go to the polls on July 30.

The Greens are hoping to capitalise on their recent gains in boroughs like Manchester as well as MP Hannah Spencer's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election. They argue Mr Burnham's replacement will either be from their party or Reform citing recent gains in local elections to back this up.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is responsible for governing across region-wide issues including health, transport, housing, major developments, jobs, policing and other emergency services. Whoever is elected will have huge powers and make decisions affecting people's everyday lives.

Despite being from a different party, Ms Coggins, who is a Trafford councillor, said a lot of Mr Burnham's transport policy she agreed with but promised she would take this further and 'give us the world class transport system' that 'doesn't just focus on the centre but also serves the people on the outer edges'.

What this will mean exactly she was not ready to share as the party prepares its manifesto for later in the election campaign. At a campaign event in Hollywood Park in Stockport, one key issue for those in the town is whether the tram network will finally come to the borough.

There has been talk for years of extending the tramline from East Didsbury and further progress on this was expected later this year. Asked whether she would support this, Ms Coggins said she would push for the tram 'as far as it can go'.

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However she added: "We know that trams are an expensive and slow solution. Buses and active transport [walking, scooting, and cycling] can be done so much cheaper and have an enormous impact much quicker and much cheaper.

"Trams are part of the solution but not the whole solution."

As Mayor, she said her focus would be on tackling issues like the cost of living and an inclusive economy across the region. Putting herself in opposition to Reform, she added she would 'really welcome our diverse community and celebrate that we are are all different and bringing something different to the table but we all call this place our home'.

However she said: "People are struggling to make ends meet and if they aren't struggling to make ends meet, they are just getting by.

"If Labour loses Greater Manchester, then that Green mayor will have a very powerful voice in Westminster because that will be a huge signal to Labour just like Gorton and Denton was.

"We have seen this existential crisis in the Labour Party and they are unable to find a Prime Minister out of 400 MPs.

"If they have lost a really important job to the Green party, they are going to have to listen to what people voting Green want. That is the way you get your message to the government."

On the campaign trail, the Green candidate was joined by the party's deputy leader Rachel Milward. Despite poor performance by the Greens in outer boroughs like Oldham, she is confident their party will be successful arguing they offered a different vision to any possible Labour government led by Mr Burnham.

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She said they were offering a hopeful alternative to voters, telling the LDRS: "We know that once we get campaigning, people come over to us. We do incredible well when we get out and talk to people and they get to know us.

"We know how to win elections. A lot of those places have yet to know us but the local elections did show it will be Green versus Reform."

She said they would seek to deliver more affordable and social housing as well as focus on high streets, green spaces, and net zero initiatives, adding: "We have seen the same developer used again and again and more luxury developments and we just want to be there for the people of Greater Manchester.

"It's not about ripping up things that are good. It's about doing more."

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