Paul Dennett | |
|---|---|
 Dennett in 2016 | |
| Acting Mayor of Greater Manchester | |
| Assumed office 19 June 2026 | |
| Deputy | Himself |
| Preceded by | Andy Burnham |
| Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester | |
| Assumed office 8 December 2021 | |
| Mayor |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Leese |
| Mayor of Salford | |
| Assumed office 9 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Stewart |
| Member of Salford City Council for Langworthy | |
| In office 3 May 2012 – 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Lynn Drake |
| Succeeded by | Paul Longshaw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Warrington, Cheshire, England |
| Party | Labour |
| Education | Great Sankey High School |
| Alma mater | University of Ulster (BA) University of Manchester (MSc) Manchester Metropolitan University (MRes) |
Paul Dennett is a British politician serving as Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2021 and as the acting Mayor of Greater Manchester since Andy Burnham's victory in the 2026 Makerfield by-election.1 A member of the Labour Party, he has served as Mayor of Salford since 2016.
Early life
Dennett was born in Warrington and grew up working class. He is openly gay.23 Dennett's father worked for a power station and was an active trade unionist and his mother was a housewife and house cleaner.42 His parents would later run The Engine Pub in Prescot, Merseyside.2 He attended Park Road Primary School and Great Sankey High School, before working in customer services at a BT call centre.5
He received a BA in International Business from the University of Ulster, an MSc in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from the Manchester Business School, and an MRES in Social Sciences from Manchester Metropolitan University.256 While at university, Dennett worked as an HR adviser and as a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.26
Career
Dennett joined the Labour Party in 2007.2 He was elected the Mayor of Salford on 5 May 2016,7 succeeding Ian Stewart also of the Labour Party, and was re-elected in 2021.
As the Mayor of Salford he is also a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is the GMCA's portfolio lead for Healthy Lives and Homelessness, and, since December 2021, is the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester.8 He became acting Mayor of Greater Manchester on 19 June 2026 following Andy Burnham's election as MP for Makerfield.91
Dennett was formerly a local councillor for the Langworthy ward in Salford, and is a member of the Unite and UCU trade unions.
References
References
- Mata, William (19 June 2026). "Is Andy Burnham still Mayor of Greater Manchester, and who could replace him?". LBC. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- Keeling, Neal (6 May 2016). "Growing up in the shadow of domestic abuse and coming to terms with being gay - it's not always been easy for Salford's new mayor". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- Sumner, James (6 February 2018). "Salford Mayor gets involved in LGBT History Month". Salford Now.
- Wall, Tom (2 July 2018). "Salford's way: an interview with mayor Paul Dennett". Inside Housing. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- "About Paul and his role". Salford City Council. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- "Paul Dennett". The Growth Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- "Salford mayor named as Paul Dennett". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- "Paul Dennett (GMCA Deputy Mayor)". Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- "Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Section 107C", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 29 January 2016, 2009 c. 20 (s. 107C), retrieved 29 June 2026,
The deputy mayor must act in place of the mayor if for any reason— (a) the mayor is unable to act, or (b) the office of mayor is vacant