Labour Wins Greater Manchester Mayoral By-Election

Labour’s Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayoral race in a significant moment for the party.

After none of the candidates secured over 50% of the votes in the first round – though Craig came close with 47.1% – the second-preference votes were added.

Once all the other candidates had been knocked out, Craig beat Reform’s Sian Astley by 309,525 to 157,178.

In her victory speech, Craig said: “I will defend this city region with every bone in my body and I will fight for a better life for all of us.”

Craig’s victory means Labour has managed to hold onto the seat ever since it was established in 2017, though this contest marked the first time Andy Burnham’s name was not on the ballot paper.

He resigned as Greater Manchester mayor after winning the Makerfield by-election earlier this month.

The so-called “King of the North” was serving his third consecutive term as the regional mayor but was looking to win a seat in the Commons which would give him the chance to oust Keir Starmer.

Burnham’s success in the by-election meant he became an MP again after a nine-year absence from Westminster.

Within a month he had been chosen as the leader of the Labour Party and de facto prime minister.

The mayoral by-election was his first electoral test as prime minister.

It coincided with a boost in the polls driven by Burnham’s policy-blitz during his first fortnight in No.10.

However, turnout for the contest was surprisingly low as only one in four voters went to the polls.

Returning officer Andrew Lightfoot revealed there was a turnout of just 25.14% across the 10 boroughs, which is the third lowest recorded in a regional mayoral election.

The lowest was recorded in 2017, when Tory Ben Houchen was elected as mayor of Tees Valley.

Burnham’s friend Steve Rotherham takes second place when it comes to low turnout with 24% when he was re-elected as the Liverpool City Region mayor.

When Burnham was re-elected in 2024, turnout was 31.8%. In 2021 it was 34.7% and in 2017 it was 28.9%.

It’s the third time Greater Manchester has asked constituents to go to the polls this year.

The Gorton and Denton by-election in February saw Green MP Hannah Spencer secure a seat while Burnham won the Makerfield contest in June.

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