Labour has retained the Greater Manchester mayoralty after Bev Craig was declared the winner of a by-election following a marathon vote count that stretched more than a day after polling stations closed.
Craig, who succeeds Andy Burnham as mayor, beat Reform UK by a dominant margin, according to the result finally confirmed more than 24 hours after voting ended. The lengthy count meant voters, candidates and campaign teams were kept waiting well beyond election night before the outcome was known.
Polling stations opened at 7am and closed at 10pm on Thursday 30 July 2026, with residents going to the polls to choose their new mayor. The by-election had been called after Burnham stood down from the role, and Labour's victory was quickly framed as evidence of the party's so-called «Burnham bounce» — the political boost associated with the outgoing mayor's popularity.
Reform UK had mounted a high-profile challenge in the contest, and the result was seen as a significant test for both parties. Labour's dominant win over Reform, confirmed in the final declaration, means the party retains control of the mayoralty. The outcome also hands Craig a strong personal mandate as she takes on the role. It denies Reform UK the breakthrough the party had been seeking.
The result was also a personal triumph for Craig, who had been leading the local council before entering the mayoral race. She will now take over from Burnham, whose record in office was central to Labour's campaign. Her victory extends Labour's hold on the position and gives the party a renewed mandate in Greater Manchester.
The marathon count itself became a talking point, with the result arriving more than 24 hours after the last votes were cast. While the delay reflected the scale of the electoral process, it also underlined the intensity of a contest in which Reform UK had hoped to make a breakthrough. Labour's campaign, built around the legacy of Andy Burnham, ultimately saw off that threat.
For Labour, the victory provides a boost as the party looks to demonstrate its electoral appeal beyond Westminster. For Reform UK, the result is a setback in a region where it had invested considerable energy. Craig's victory means the mayoralty remains in Labour hands, and the new mayor will now turn to governing the region.
The by-election had drawn attention as an early test of Labour's standing in the North of England, and the party's ability to hold the seat comfortably will be seen as a positive signal. With the full result now declared, attention turns to Craig's tenure as mayor and to the political battles that lie ahead.
