Key facts
- Labour's Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection.
- Labour secured 66% of the vote after second preferences were counted.
- Reform UK received 33% of the vote after second preferences.
- The victory is seen as a significant boost for the new prime minister.
- The byelection was triggered by Andy Burnham's election to the Makerfield constituency.
Labour has achieved a decisive victory in the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, with candidate Bev Craig securing 66% of the vote after second preferences were counted. This win marks a significant boost for the new prime minister and suggests Labour's ability to regain support from both left and right-leaning voters.
The contest saw Labour take 47% of first-preference votes, significantly ahead of Reform UK (21%) and the Green Party (12%). Under the supplementary voting system, second preferences propelled Labour to a commanding lead.
The result poses challenges for Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which had previously shown strong performance in the region. The party's lead in national polls has diminished, and questions surrounding its funding have intensified. Reform UK's performance in this byelection is seen as a considerable underperformance compared to earlier gains.
Labour sources indicated victories across multiple boroughs, including Bury and Tameside, and most of Trafford. Even in Oldham, where Reform UK had recently gained significant ground, Labour secured a strong majority in the mayoral contest.
For the Green Party, the result showed a doubling of their vote share compared to previous contests, indicating growth beyond their traditional urban base. However, the Green candidate noted that the contest going to second preferences was a negative sign for Labour, especially within the honeymoon period of a new prime minister.
The byelection was necessitated by Andy Burnham's election to the Makerfield constituency, requiring him to step down as mayor. Despite being the largest mayoral contest of its kind in British history, turnout was lower than in previous elections, attributed to low voter awareness and the timing during summer holidays.