[14] In October 2016, the Conservative Party announced that Sean Anstee, Leader of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, would run as their candidate for mayor.

The mayor is responsible for the creation of a county wide spatial development strategy with adoption subject to unanimous approval of the Members of the GMCA.

The mayor oversees the administration of the £300m Greater Manchester Housing Investment Fund with the intention of delivering an additional 15,000 homes over a 10-year period.

The mayor also took over the role formerly exercised by the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Authority in setting budgets and taking strategic decisions.

The GMCA will have full control of the Apprenticeship and adult skills budget for the region from the 2018/19 academic year as well as a commitment to explore devolution of 16-19 education spending.

The mayor possesses significant powers over transport in Greater Manchester which is arguably the largest transport-connected area outside London following recent developments.

The mayor is responsible for the creation of the Local Transport Plan for the region outlining policy and spending decision subject to a 2/3rd majority ratification.

In October 2018, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, stated his powers to influence transport improvements in the region were insufficient.

He described the performance of Northern since the May 2018 timetable as "shocking", the struggle to introduce an holistic bus franchising system as a continuing "challenge" and congestion on the roads as an impediment to the region's future growth - without government action this would result in lost opportunities for Greater Manchester.