- Labour retained the Greater Manchester mayoralty after the by-election count went to a second round.
- Craig came top with 309,525 votes; Reform UK trailed on 157,178 votes, and the Green Party placed third.
- The victory was secured in a second round under the city’s supplemental vote system, marking the first time the contest went to a second round.
- Speaking at the Co-Op Live arena, Craig said she stands ready to serve her 3 million constituents and pledged: “Every single decision I take as your mayor of Greater Manchester will pass the test of making your life better.”
- Craig will deal directly with Burnham, who promised to devolve more powers to England’s mayors; the role covers transport, policing, and housing.
- Reform UK’s campaign was scaled back after Nigel Farage called a separate by-election in Clacton; candidate Sian Astley drew criticism for skipping hustings and spent only £14,000 on digital ads.
Labour's Bev Craig has officially taken over as the new mayor of Greater Manchester, winning the by-election with 309,525 votes against Reform UK's 157,178 votes. This election marked a significant moment as it was the first time the city's supplemental voting system required a second round for a mayoral contest.123491011
Craig's victory comes after the resignation of three-time mayor Andy Burnham, who left to lead the Labour Party and become Prime Minister. In her acceptance speech at the Co-Op Live arena, Craig expressed her commitment to her 3 million constituents, stating, “Every single decision I take as your mayor of Greater Manchester will pass the test of making your life better.”5678
Despite initial concerns that Reform UK could seize the mayoralty, their campaign faltered, with resources diverted to a separate by-election in Clacton. The party's candidate, Sian Astley, faced criticism for withdrawing from local hustings and spending only £14,000 on digital ads. Turnout for this special election was 25%, a decline from 32% in 2024, reflecting a potential voter disengagement in the region.
Craig will now navigate her role with powers over transport, policing, and housing, while directly engaging with Burnham, who has promised to devolve more powers to mayors as part of a broader devolution package.
“Bev Craig came top with 309,525 votes, ahead of Reform UK's 157,178 and the Green Party, then said at Co-Op Live she was 'ready to serve' her 3 million constituents. Reform UK's campaign was scaled back after Nigel Farage called a Clacton by-election; Sian Astley spent just £14,000 on digital ads.”
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