Kate Green was confirmed as Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester this week.

The former MP for Stretford and Urmston, who stood down last month from the role she held since 2010, is to replace Beverley Hughes in the New Year.

Ms Green was nominated as Deputy Mayor when she stood down, but it called for confirmation from a Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

Chaired by Janet Emsley, a councillor on Rochdale Council, it met on December 5 and accepted the nomination made by Andy Burnham unanimously.

READ MORE: Stretford and Urmston by-election – what, who, when, where, why?

Ms Green said: "It was an honour for me to be nominated as Deputy Mayor for Greater Manchester by the Mayor and I'm pleased that the Police, Fire and Crime Panel has endorsed my appointment.

"Holding decision makers to account is an integral part of our democratic system and I know the panel will continue to carry out their role diligently in holding me to account when I take up the post.

"There’s a busy agenda ahead which I’m looking forward to getting stuck into and I know the panel will rightly be asking probing questions of my plans for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire.

"I would like to thank the panel for their warm words today and I look forward to working them.”

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Mr Burnham added: "I am delighted that my nominee for Deputy Mayor has been supported by the panel. Kate Green brings a wealth of experience and understanding of policing, crime, criminal justice and fire as well as working with communities to keep them safe and supporting victims of crime, and it was great to hear the panel recognise this.

"I fully respect the role of the panel and the vital work they do in holding me and the Deputy Mayor to account. With Kate Green taking up the post soon, we will continue to work with the panel."

The by-election to replace Ms Green in Stretford and Urmston is on December 15.

Anything other than a win for council leader Andrew Western would be a shock in what is a safe seat for the Labour Party since its creation 25 years ago. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.