More than two million voters are poised to elect a new Greater Manchester mayor, as polls approach closure on Thursday evening, reports BritPanorama.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged the electorate to support Labour’s Bev Craig, asserting that her leadership would ensure equitable success across all towns and boroughs in the region.
The by-election, triggered by Andy Burnham’s resignation as part of his aspirations to become prime minister, marks a pivotal moment in the UK’s political landscape, opening a path for his successor to step into a significant role.
In total, seven candidates are in the running to replace Burnham: Craig (Labour), Phil Eckersley (Conservatives), Geraldine Coggins (Green Party), Sian Astley (Reform UK), Richard Kilpatrick (Liberal Democrats), Marlon West (Restore Britain), and Marcus Farmer (Independent).
Residents across Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan will participate in the election, a process made notable as Burnham is absent from the ballot for the first time since the metro mayor position was established in 2017. Previously, he topped the votes in each election held in 2017, 2021, and 2024.
On the eve of polling, Burnham reflected on his nearly decade-long tenure as mayor, calling it an “immense privilege” and expressing confidence in Craig’s ability to advance their shared achievements.
When will results be announced?
Polls are set to close at 10 PM GMT, with counting scheduled to commence at Co-op Live from 9 AM the following day. This timeline indicates that results may not be available until Friday afternoon, unlike general election counts that occur overnight.
However, if the results are particularly close, subsequent counting of second preference votes could delay announcements further into the day.
Will there be an exit poll?
Typically, no exit poll is conducted for the Manchester mayoral election, a practice usually reserved for UK general elections. The expense associated with conducting exit polls makes it impractical for local and mayoral contests.
Polls leading up to the election have positioned Labour’s Craig comfortably in the lead, approximately 20 points ahead of Reform UK’s Astley. The Greens’ Coggins is projected to finish third at 14 per cent, with Conservatives’ Eckersley at fourth with 12 per cent, according to the latest More in Common poll.
Should a runoff occur, Craig is expected to secure 65 per cent of the vote against Astley’s 35 per cent.
In a significant shift, Greater Manchester now approaches a transition under new leadership, marking a crucial point in the region’s political narrative.
