Greater Manchester Mayoral By-election Set to Be Largest Ever

A by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty is set to be the largest in the United Kingdom's history, with more than two million individuals eligible to vote. The contest was initiated after Andy Burnham resigned from his position as mayor. Mr Burnham was elected as the Labour MP for Makerfield in June and subsequently took over from Sir Keir Starmer.

Seven candidates are vying for the mayoral role. These include Bev Craig for the Labour Party, Phil Eckersley representing the Conservatives, Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party, and Sian Astley for Reform UK. Richard Kilpatrick is standing for the Liberal Democrats, alongside Marlon West for Restore Britain and independent candidate Marcus Farmer.

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Residents across Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan are eligible to participate in the vote. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday. The count will take place on Friday, with the result anticipated to be announced in the afternoon.

This by-election is the first time a vacancy has arisen for one of England's combined authority mayors. The cost of the election is projected to run into millions, following the £4.7 million expenditure for the 2024 mayoral election. In the 2024 contest, Mr Burnham secured 63% of the vote, receiving 420,749 out of 663,631 valid votes cast across the ten authorities.

The voting method for this by-election is the supplementary vote (SV) system, which was also used in 2017 and 2021. Under SV, voters mark their first and second choices. If a candidate secures over 50% of first-choice votes, they win. If not, the bottom candidates are eliminated, and second-choice votes are redistributed between the top two.

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Andy Burnham, speaking ahead of polling day, described his nearly decade-long service as mayor as an "immense privilege". He endorsed Labour candidate Bev Craig, stating his confidence that she would continue the region's progress. Mr Burnham highlighted Ms Craig's focus on financial benefits for residents, cost of living support, and opportunities for young people.

Bev Craig currently serves as the leader of Manchester City Council. Other candidates also hold positions within local government: Sian Astley and Richard Kilpatrick are members of Manchester City Council, while Phil Eckersley and Geraldine Coggins are councillors in Trafford.

Geraldine Coggins of the Green Party has called for "full-fat devolution" and criticised the current Labour administration for favouring developers. She stated her intention to seek powers to impose penalties for land banking. Phil Eckersley, a Conservative candidate, stated his understanding of the challenges faced by families and businesses from his perspective as a business owner and local councillor.

Marlon West, representing Restore Britain, works as a mental health nurse. He recently received an 18-month suspension from the Nursing and Midwifery Council following comments made on social media. Mr West has co-authored a book with his daughter about her experiences of rape and sexual abuse.

Independent candidate Marcus Farmer previously stood against Mr Burnham in 2021, securing less than 1% of the vote. He also stood in the 2017 mayoral election.