Labour has won a decisive victory in Greater Manchester mayoral byelection; Bev Craig succeeds Andy Burnham, reversing recent Reform UK and Green gains

Labour's Bev Craig has emerged victorious in the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, succeeding Andy Burnham and marking a significant reversal of recent gains by Reform UK and the Greens. Labour captured 47% of the vote, while Reform UK garnered 21% and the Greens 12%.¹²³⁶⁹

The byelection, triggered by Burnham's resignation on June 18, was the largest of its kind in British political history, with over 2 million eligible voters. However, turnout was only 25%, the third lowest for any mayoral byelection, attributed to low voter awareness and the timing during summer holidays.⁸

In her victory speech, Craig emphasized the need to “move away from divisive politics” and highlighted the resilience of local communities. She stated, “I met fantastic people doing incredible things against the odds every single day.”

The results indicate a significant boost for Labour under the new prime minister, suggesting the party can reclaim support from both left- and right-leaning voters who had previously deserted it. A senior Labour source noted that Reform UK had “massively underperformed,” reflecting a shift in voter sentiment.⁷

The byelection results pose challenges for Nigel Farage's party, which had previously dominated local elections, winning over 100 seats in Greater Manchester in May. Labour's success in traditionally strong Reform UK areas, such as Oldham, where it won 17 of 20 wards, signals a potential resurgence for the party.

Geraldine Coggins, the Green party candidate, acknowledged the party's campaign but expressed concern over the loss of support during the new prime minister's honeymoon period, stating, “To have lost this much support is not a positive sign for them.”