Bev Craig wins Greater Manchester mayoral race

Another win for Labour

The contest went to a second round for the first time in the region's history. Craig won 47.15 per cent of first-preference votes, just short of the 50 per cent needed to win outright under the Supplementary Vote system, before defeating Reform UK's Sian Astley, who took 20.99 per cent.

How Bev Craig secured the win

Turnout was historically low, with only around one in four of the more than two million eligible voters casting a ballot. Burnham vacated the mayoralty after becoming MP for Makerfield and moving into Downing Street, since establishing a "No 10 in the North" in the heart of Manchester, as The Independent reported.

Craig inherits a role set to grow in influence as Burnham devolves further powers to the North. Her immediate challenge will be maintaining Labour's grip on the region while fending off a resurgent Reform.