Manchester Awaits Result in Vote to Replace Burnham
Counting was under way on Friday morning in the by-election to choose Andy Burnham’s successor as mayor of Greater Manchester, with no result yet declared. Polls closed on Thursday night in the contest, triggered by his move to Downing Street, which pits Labour against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and others. The outcome is being watched as an early test of the new government’s standing.
The mayoralty is one of the most powerful directly elected offices outside London, with authority over transport, housing and policing across the city region. Mr Burnham held it for eight years and made it a national platform, so the margin will hint at whether Labour’s dominance in the region was his or the party’s. A low summer turnout could favour insurgent challengers, and a strong showing for Reform would unsettle Labour despite its recent revival in the polls. The result is expected later on Friday. Watch the winning margin as a gauge of the political mood.