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‘You can’t fix it through vibes alone’: What Manchester voters want from their new mayor
Voters in Greater Manchester go to the polls on Thursday in what is described as Britain's biggest ever by-election, choosing a successor to Andy Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester after he stepped down to become an MP. Labour's Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, is the favourite to win, and the contest is being closely watched as the first electoral test for the party since Burnham became prime minister, in a region where he remains highly popular.
Polling from More in Common suggests Craig will beat Reform's Sian Astley 65 per cent to 35 per cent in a second round under the supplementary voting system, marking the first time the mayoral race has gone beyond round one since she is not expected to secure the 50 per cent needed outright. The Greens and Reform have both made local gains against Labour, with the Greens winning the Gorton and Denton seat and Reform performing strongly in outer boroughs such as Wigan, Bolton and Tameside. Voters interviewed by The Independent, including Kash Haroon and Carol Tallack, cited Craig's experience working alongside Burnham and her authenticity as reasons for backing her, while also raising concerns such as housing and homelessness that they want addressed through concrete investment rather than rhetoric.
In short
- Greater Manchester holds record-scale mayoral by-election on Thursday.
- Labour's Bev Craig favoured to win after Burnham's departure.
- Contest may go to second round; Reform and Greens gaining ground locally.
Explained simply
Greater Manchester will elect a new mayor on Thursday following Andy Burnham's decision to step down from the role to become an MP in the new Labour government. Burnham remains highly popular in the region, and this by-election is being closely watched as the first electoral test for Labour since he became prime minister.
Labour's Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, is the favourite to succeed Burnham, facing competition from Reform's Sian Astley and other candidates. The election uses supplementary voting, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference. If no candidate wins 50 per cent of first preference votes, the top two proceed to a second round where second preferences are counted.
In recent local elections, Labour has faced challenges in Greater Manchester, with the Greens and Reform both gaining representation. Reform has performed strongly in outer boroughs including Wigan, Bolton and Tameside, while the Greens won representation in Gorton and Denton. These results have shifted the political landscape in the region from Labour's previously dominant position.
Art Culture Elections Politics