Andy Burnham has called on the newly-elected Greater Manchester mayor to push boundaries and take more action following her victory in the by-election. Bev Craig, representing the Labour party, secured the largest by-election win in British history to assume the position vacated by Burnham when he transitioned to the role of Prime Minister.
The outcome was announced late on Friday, marking another setback for Nigel Farage’s Reform party. Speaking at a celebratory event in Manchester with Craig, Burnham hailed her as the “queen of the north” and expressed confidence in her ability to lead the city region into a prosperous future.
Craig, a 41-year-old leader of the Manchester City Council, emerged victorious after a runoff against Reform’s Sian Astley due to no candidate garnering over 50% of the votes. Voter turnout stood at slightly above 25%, lower than the previous mayoral election, with over 500,000 votes cast from a potential two million eligible voters. Craig secured 309,525 votes after the runoff, factoring in the voters’ second preferences.
In her address to supporters, Craig highlighted the public’s desire for responsive leadership that prioritizes economic well-being and community unity. She emphasized the electorate’s endorsement of building on past achievements while rejecting divisive rhetoric and actions.
Analyzing the complete vote count, Craig led in the initial round of voting across all ten local authority areas within Greater Manchester. Astley secured second place in eight areas, with Green candidate Geraldine Coggins taking second in Manchester and Conservative candidate Phil Eckersley in Trafford.