Paul Dennett

Paul Dennett
Dennett in 2016
Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 December 2021
Mayor
Preceded byRichard Leese
Mayor of Salford
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 May 2016
Preceded byIan Stewart
Acting Mayor of Greater Manchester
In office
19 June 2026 – 3 August 2026
DeputyHimself
Preceded byAndy Burnham
Succeeded byBev Craig
Member of Salford City Council
for Langworthy
In office
3 May 2012 – 6 May 2016
Preceded byLynn Drake
Succeeded byPaul Longshaw
Personal details
Born
Warrington, Cheshire, England
PartyLabour
EducationGreat Sankey High School
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. A member of the Labour Party, he has served as Mayor of Salford since 2016 and was the acting mayor of Greater Manchester from June 2026 to August 2026.

Early life

Dennett was born in Warrington and grew up working class. He is openly gay. Dennett's father worked for a power station and was an active trade unionist and his mother was a housewife and house cleaner. His parents would later run The Engine Pub in Prescot, Merseyside. He attended Park Road Primary School and Great Sankey High School, before working in customer services at a BT call centre.

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. While at university, Dennett worked as an HR adviser and as a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

Career

Dennett joined the Labour Party in 2007. He was elected the Mayor of Salford on 5 May 2016, 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. He is the GMCA's portfolio lead for Healthy Lives and Homelessness, and since December 2021 is the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester. He served as acting Mayor of Greater Manchester from 19 June 2026 following Andy Burnham's election as MP for Makerfield, until Burnham's permanent successor Bev Craig was sworn in on 3 August 2026.

Dennett was formerly a local councillor for the Langworthy ward in Salford, and is a member of the Unite and UCU trade unions.

References

  1. 1 2 Mata, William (19 June 2026). "Is Andy Burnham still Mayor of Greater Manchester, and who could replace him?". LBC. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Sumner, James (6 February 2018). "Salford Mayor gets involved in LGBT History Month". Salford Now. Archived from the original on 8 November 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Wall, Tom (2 July 2018). "Salford's way: an interview with mayor Paul Dennett". Inside Housing. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 "About Paul and his role". Salford City Council. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Paul Dennett". The Growth Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Salford mayor named as Paul Dennett". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Paul Dennett (GMCA Deputy Mayor)". Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "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
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)