Bev Craig Secures Greater Manchester Mayoral Victory After Second Round
Labour retains control of the strategic authority amidst a 25.14 per cent turnout, following Andy Burnham's transition to Labour Party leader.
Carla Rooney
Bev Craig has been declared the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Polls closed at 10 pm on Thursday, July 30, with official results initially anticipated earlier in the day.
The election employed the supplementary voting system.
This system mandates a second round of counting if no candidate secures over 50% of first-choice votes; such a scenario unfolded, triggering a second count for the Greater Manchester mayoral election.
This outcome directly contrasts Labour's significant loss of 108 seats across Greater Manchester during the May 2024 local elections.
The by-election itself arose from Andy Burnham's election as the MP for Makerfield and his subsequent elevation to Labour Party leader, creating the mayoral vacancy.
Seven candidates contested the position, representing diverse political affiliations across the ten boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan.
Bev Craig stood for Labour, Phil Eckersley for the Conservatives, and Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party.
Sian Astley represented Reform UK, Richard Kilpatrick the Liberal Democrats, Marlon West Restore Britain, and Marcus Farmer as an Independent.
Reform UK's Sian Astley finished in second place, accumulating 4,161 second-preference votes to bring her total to 14,006.
Phil Eckersley of the Conservative Party received 9,315 first-preference votes, while Marlon Scott West of Restore Britain garnered 3,136 first-preference votes.
The election recorded a turnout of 25.14 per cent from a total of 2,142,779 eligible voters.
This contest marked the first UK by-election for a strategic authority mayor and the largest by-election ever held in the country.
Bev Craig, currently the leader of Manchester City Council, campaigned under the 'For Us' branding, proposing to extend free bus passes to 11- to 16-year-olds.
Through our candidate Bev Craig and our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, we have heard from many people who are giving Labour another look. Labour is offering hope.
Lucy Powell further asserted, "If the voters of Greater Manchester put their trust in Labour, we will all work tirelessly to put Bev’s promises into action."
The new mayor will influence budgets and priorities for Greater Manchester, impacting critical sectors such as housing, transport, and policing.
Bev Craig and Andy Burnham previously shared frustrations regarding limitations during his mayoral tenure, suggesting a continuity of understanding regional challenges.
The Prime Minister established a No10 in the North in Manchester, indicating a broader governmental focus acknowledging regional power.
English mayors will retain a share of the taxes collected in their area, further enhancing the mayoral office's financial autonomy and influence.
The result was declared at 11 pm, with Bev Craig affirming, "I will defend this city region with every bone in my body and I will fight for a better life for all of us."