Counting is under way in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, with the result expected to be announced later on Friday.
The contest was triggered by Andy Burnham’s election to Parliament last month. Mr Burnham stood down from the mayoralty after winning a seat in the House of Commons, leaving the role vacant and forcing a by-election to find his successor. The vote to replace him took place across the region, and the count began once polling stations had closed.
The winner will succeed Mr Burnham and take over as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Voters in the ten boroughs that make up the region went to the polls, and ballot boxes have now been delivered to counting centres, where staff are verifying the papers. The result is due to be declared later on Friday, once every valid vote has been counted.
Mr Burnham had served as the region’s mayor since the role was created in 2017, and he became one of the most recognisable figures in Labour politics outside Westminster. His decision to leave the mayoralty and pursue a parliamentary career set up a contest that drew attention from across the political spectrum.
By-elections for directly elected mayors are rare, and the outcome is being closely watched both locally and nationally. The vote is also historic, marking the first time that voters in Greater Manchester have been asked to choose a mayor mid-way through a term. With no previous contest of this kind to use as a guide, the result is being treated as an important test of public opinion in the region.
The next mayor will be expected to take on responsibility for leading the combined authority and for representing Greater Manchester on the national stage. Transport, housing, economic development and public services are all part of the role, which has grown in profile since the mayoralty was established. These responsibilities mean the result will have consequences well beyond the count itself.
Counting staff are expected to work through the ballots before the returning officer makes the formal announcement. The timetable has been set so that all ballot papers can be checked thoroughly before any declaration is made. A result is not expected until later in the day, and until the declaration is made no candidate can claim victory.
Once the count is complete, the returning officer will read out the totals for each candidate and confirm who has won the right to become the next Mayor of Greater Manchester, bringing the by-election to a close and ending weeks of uncertainty over the region’s leadership. The result will bring the campaign to an end and mark the beginning of a new chapter for the region.
