Labour beats Reform to win Greater Manchester mayoral contest as council leader replaces Andy Burnham

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:09, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 23:29, 31 July 2026 Labour's Bev Craig has beaten off Reform UK with a two-thirds majority to become Greater Manchester's new mayor. Voters headed to the polls on Thursday to choose who would replace Andy Burnham as their new regional mayor. Ms Craig stormed to victory with 309,525 votes (66.3%) against Reform UK's Sian Astley, who secured 157,178 votes (33.7%) following a second round count.  Moments after she was announced as the new mayor, Ms Craig said she was 'honoured, humbled and ready to serve the three million people that live across this fantastic city region'.  She said: 'I will be a greater mayor for everyone. We have to move away from divisive politics that try to pit neighbour against neighbour, and we'll work together.' Ms Craig added that she wanted to 'build' a city where 'everyone feels welcome and everyone has a chance to succeed'. The biggest by-election in UK history - of more than two million voters - was triggered when Mr Burnham resigned from the mayoralty earlier this year so that he could oust Keir Starmer as prime minister. Prior to her election, Ms Craig served as a deputy mayor in Greater Manchester with a portfolio covering the economy, business and 'inclusive growth'. She became leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021, succeeding the long-serving Sir Richard Leese in the post. Originally from Northern Ireland, the 41-year-old moved to Greater Manchester aged 18. She is noted for being the city's first female council leader and its first LGBT leader. Labour's Bev Craig has beaten off Reform UK with a two-thirds majority to become Greater Manchester's new mayor The cost of the contest is expected to run into the millions of pounds, with the 2024 mayoral election in Greater Manchester - won by Mr Burnham - costing the taxpayer £4.7million. That contest saw Mr Burnham re-elected with 63 per cent of the vote under the 'first past the post' system, in which the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner. He also received the most votes in each of Greater Manchester's 10 local authority areas. For Thursday's by-election, voting changed back to the 'supplementary vote' (SV) system used in the mayoral elections in 2017 and 2021. Following the first count, there was no candidate who won more than 50% of the first-choice votes, resulting in a second round.  In 2021, the last time Manchester was contested under the SV system, Mr Burnham won in the first round with 67% of first preference votes. This is breaking news, more follows.