Bev Craig (Labour) was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester on Friday, July 31, 2026 [1].
The victory ensures Labour retains control of the region after the seat became vacant when former mayor Andy Burnham resigned to become Prime Minister [1].
The contest was described as the biggest ever by-election in Britain [4]. The process involved multiple stages of counting, with five candidates eliminated before the second round of voting began [5]. While no candidate secured an immediate majority in the first round, the counting of second-choice ballots resulted in Craig's victory over the runner-up, Sian Astley of Reform UK [1, 2].
Despite the high-profile nature of the race, officials said voter turnout was the lowest in history for a Greater Manchester mayoral election [6]. The result follows a period of significant political transition in the United Kingdom, as the region transitioned leadership during a shift in the national government.
Craig now takes over the mayoral duties from Burnham, who vacated the office after being elected as a Member of Parliament [1]. The transition comes as Reform UK attempted to make significant inroads into the northern urban strongholds of the Labour Party through Astley's candidacy [1, 3].
“Bev Craig (Labour) was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester on Friday, July 31, 2026.”
The result maintains the political status quo in Greater Manchester, but the record-low turnout and the strong second-place finish by Reform UK suggest a growing disconnect between the electorate and traditional party structures. While Labour held the seat, the shift in engagement indicates a potential volatility in regional loyalty that could impact future local and national contests.
