Key facts
- Voters in Manchester are electing a new mayor to replace Andy Burnham.
- Andy Burnham resigned as mayor to become the United Kingdom's prime minister.
- Burnham's rise to prime minister followed Keir Starmer's resignation.
- Bev Craig is the Labour candidate seeking to retain the mayoral seat.
- The election is viewed as a test of the Labour Party's popularity.
Voters in Manchester are heading to the polls to elect a new mayor, filling the vacancy left by Andy Burnham, who has ascended to the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The election is being closely watched as a gauge of the Labour Party's current standing, with Burnham aiming to bolster its popularity.
Burnham previously served as the mayor of Greater Manchester for nine years before winning a parliamentary seat last month. His momentum in that election reportedly spurred Keir Starmer to announce his resignation as prime minister, clearing the path for Burnham to assume leadership of the Labour Party and the country on July 20. Burnham has since established a regional prime minister's office in Manchester, known as "No. 10 North," to advance his agenda of decentralizing power and promoting economic growth.
The Greater Manchester region, home to approximately 3 million people, is a traditional stronghold for the Labour Party. Bev Craig, the current leader of Manchester City Council, is the party's candidate to succeed Burnham, aiming to maintain Labour's hold on the mayoralty. She faces competition from six other candidates, including Sian Astley of the Reform UK party, which saw significant gains in recent local elections.
Concerns about Labour's electoral performance, particularly following a substantial loss in the May local elections and a special parliamentary election in Gorton and Denton where the Green Party secured victory, contributed to Starmer's departure and Burnham's rise. Professor Rob Ford of the University of Manchester noted that a strong showing for Labour in its traditional base would provide a significant boost to Burnham's leadership.