Labour’s Bev Craig has been elected Mayor of Greater Manchester after defeating Reform UK candidate Sian Astley in the second stage of voting.
Craig received 251,449 first-preference votes, representing approximately 47.15 per cent of the valid first-preference vote. As no candidate passed 50 per cent, the contest proceeded to a second stage between Craig and Astley.
After eligible second preferences were added, Craig finished with 309,525 votes, compared with 157,178 for Astley. The final two-candidate shares were approximately 66.3 per cent for Craig and 33.7 per cent for Astley.
The result means Labour has retained the Greater Manchester mayoralty following Andy Burnham’s departure from the role to return to Parliament and subsequently become Prime Minister. Craig becomes the first woman to serve as the elected Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Full First-Preference Result
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
| Bev Craig | Labour and Co-operative Party | 251,449 | 47.15% |
| Sian Astley | Reform UK | 111,928 | 20.99% |
| Geraldine Coggins | Green Party | 64,968 | 12.18% |
| Marlon West | Restore Britain | 46,289 | 8.68% |
| Phil Eckersley | Conservative Party | 41,021 | 7.69% |
| Richard Kilpatrick | Liberal Democrats | 14,702 | 2.76% |
| Marcus Farmer | Independent | 2,969 | 0.56% |
A total of 533,326 valid first-preference votes were recorded. A further 5,328 ballot papers were rejected during the first-preference count.
Second-Stage Result
| Candidate | Party | First preferences | Added second preferences | Final total |
| Bev Craig | Labour and Co-operative Party | 251,449 | 58,076 | 309,525 |
| Sian Astley | Reform UK | 111,928 | 45,250 | 157,178 |
Craig’s final advantage over Astley was 152,347 votes. Another 53,504 second preferences had been cast for candidates already eliminated from the contest and therefore did not transfer to either finalist.
Labour Holds Its Most Prominent Mayoral Office
The victory gives Labour continuity at the head of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority following Burnham’s nine years as mayor.
Craig entered the contest as the former leader of Manchester City Council and the clear favourite to succeed him. Her campaign included commitments on affordable housing, public transport and investment across the ten Greater Manchester boroughs.
Although she fell just short of winning outright on first preferences, Craig held a lead of almost 140,000 votes over Astley at the first stage. She then received more transferable second preferences than her Reform opponent, producing a comfortable final victory.
Reform Finishes Second
Astley’s second-place finish confirms Reform UK as a significant electoral presence in Greater Manchester. The party received almost 21 per cent of first preferences, but remained well behind Labour across the city region as a whole.
The Green Party’s Geraldine Coggins finished third with 64,968 votes, or just over 12 per cent. Restore Britain candidate Marlon West placed fourth with 46,289 votes, finishing ahead of Conservative candidate Phil Eckersley.
The Conservatives received 41,021 votes—approximately 7.7 per cent—while the Liberal Democrats finished sixth and independent Marcus Farmer placed seventh.
Turnout Falls to 25.14 Per Cent
The combined electorate across Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs was 2,142,779. A total of 538,659 ballot papers were verified, producing turnout of 25.14 per cent.
Turnout varied substantially across the city region. Trafford recorded the highest figure at 35 per cent, followed by Stockport at 31 per cent. Oldham and Wigan recorded the lowest turnout, both at approximately 22 per cent.
The low participation means the result should be interpreted with some caution as a guide to opinion across the whole electorate. However, Labour’s lead was sufficiently large that the reduced turnout did not produce the upset some of the party’s supporters had feared.
A Significant Early Result for the New Government
The contest was the first major electoral test in Greater Manchester since Burnham became Prime Minister. Labour will view the result as evidence that its regional organisation and the former mayor’s political support remain substantial.
For Reform UK, finishing second demonstrates continued growth but also the distance the party still needs to close in a city region long associated with Labour. The result likewise presents challenges for the Conservatives, who finished behind both the Greens and Restore Britain.
Craig now takes responsibility for transport, policing, housing, skills and economic development across Greater Manchester. Her immediate task will be to establish an identity distinct from Burnham while delivering the continuity on which Labour fought the campaign.