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Greater Manchester votes today in biggest UK by-election ever

Thursday, 30 July 2026 17:00

Over two million voters are choosing Andy Burnham's successor as Greater Manchester mayor today, with polls closing at 10pm.

More than two million Greater Manchester residents are voting today in what's being called the biggest by-election in UK history. Polls close at 10pm, with results expected tomorrow.

The contest was triggered when Andy Burnham had to give up the mayor's job after winning the Makerfield parliamentary by-election in June. He's since become Prime Minister, but UK law bars MPs from holding combined authority mayor roles that include police powers.

Seven candidates are standing to replace Burnham, who'd been Greater Manchester's mayor since the role was created in 2017. The winner will serve until the next scheduled election in 2028.

Labour's candidate is Bev Craig, 41, the current leader of Manchester City Council. She's the first woman and first openly gay person to lead the council, a position she's held since 2021.

The other candidates are
Phil Eckersley (Conservative)
Richard Kilpatrick (Liberal Democrats)
Marcus Farmer (Independent)
Marlon West (Restore Britain).

The election uses the supplementary vote system, where voters can choose first and second preferences.

The Greater Manchester mayor leads the Combined Authority, which runs the Bee Network of buses and trams and holds powers over housing, planning, policing and skills across the region's ten boroughs.