Greater Manchester Mayoral By-Election Underway
Over two million voters eligible in the largest by-election in UK history to replace Andy Burnham.
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Voters in Greater Manchester are heading to the polls for a mayoral by-election. The contest is the largest of its kind in UK history, with more than two million residents eligible to cast their ballot. Polling stations are open on Thursday, and the outcome is expected to be announced on Friday afternoon.
Reason for the Vacancy
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The mayoral position became vacant after Andy Burnham resigned from the role. As reported by The Standard, Mr Burnham was elected as the Labour MP for Makerfield in June and subsequently took over from Sir Keir Starmer this month, necessitating his departure from the mayoralty. He had served as mayor for nearly a decade.
Mr Burnham has urged voters to support Labour's candidate, Bev Craig. He stated that Ms Craig would ensure "every town, every borough" benefits from the region's progress. He added that she would focus on financial relief for families and opportunities for young people. Ms Craig is also the leader of Manchester City Council.
The Candidates
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Seven candidates are standing in the election. These include Bev Craig for Labour, Phil Eckersley for the Conservatives, Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party, and Sian Astley for Reform UK. Other candidates are Richard Kilpatrick for the Liberal Democrats, Marlon West for Restore Britain, and independent candidate Marcus Farmer.
Several candidates hold local government positions. Ms Craig leads Manchester City Council, while Ms Astley and Mr Kilpatrick are councillors in Manchester. Ms Coggins and Mr Eckersley are councillors in Trafford. Mr Farmer previously stood against Mr Burnham in 2021 and 2017.
Voting System
This by-election uses the supplementary vote (SV) system. This method was also employed in the 2017 and 2021 mayoral elections. Under SV, voters can indicate a first and second preference. If no candidate secures over 50% of first-choice votes, the top two candidates proceed to a second round where second-preference votes are added to determine the winner. Votes without a first choice will not be counted.
The previous mayoral election in 2024, won by Mr Burnham, used the first-past-the-post system. He secured 63% of the vote, with 420,749 valid votes cast across the 10 authorities. The Conservatives came second with 10% of the vote.
What Happens Next
Polls close at 10pm on Thursday. The counting of votes will commence on Friday, with the result anticipated in the afternoon. This is the first time a by-election has been required to fill a vacancy for a mayor of an English combined authority.
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