Voters across Greater Manchester are participating in a significant by-election to choose a new regional mayor, following the resignation of Andy Burnham. The contest, described as the largest by-election in UK history with over two million eligible voters, was triggered when Burnham stepped down from his mayoral duties earlier this year. This move enabled him to re-enter the House of Commons.
The cost of this special election is substantial, with estimates suggesting it will run into the millions of pounds. For context, the 2024 mayoral election in Greater Manchester, which saw Burnham re-elected, cost the taxpayer approximately £4.7 million. A separate by-election last month, which facilitated Burnham's return to Parliament, incurred an estimated cost of around £225,000.
Andy Burnham has publicly endorsed Labour's Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, as his preferred successor. Craig is considered the frontrunner by bookmakers. However, other candidates are also vying for the position. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is urging residents to support his party's candidate, Sian Astley. Farage has stated that Greater Manchester needs a "fixer" with real-life business experience, rather than a "career politician," and has outlined Astley's platform, which includes revitalizing high streets, addressing illegal immigration, and increasing financial transparency.
The Green Party, represented by Geraldine Coggins, also has a candidate. Zack Polanski, a Green Party leader, expressed optimism that the party could achieve a surprise victory, suggesting that Reform UK has not been a significant factor and Labour appears too complacent. He called for voters to support the Green Party for a "fairer Greater Manchester."
Other candidates include Phil Eckersley for the Conservative Party, Richard Kilpatrick for the Liberal Democrats, Marlon West for the Restore Britain party, and independent candidate Marcus Farmer. Ms. Craig, Ms. Astley, and Mr. Kilpatrick are all current councillors on Manchester City Council. Mr. Eckersley and Ms. Coggins serve as Trafford councillors.
Marlon West, a mental health nurse, has faced controversy due to a social media suspension related to comments about sexual grooming. The leader of the Restore Britain party, Rupert Lowe, has defended West, calling him "the best qualified candidate for any mayoral race for a very long time" and referencing a book co-authored by West and his daughter about her experiences with sexual abuse.
Marcus Farmer is a returning candidate, having previously stood against Andy Burnham in 2017 and 2021, securing less than 1% of the vote in his last attempt.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. on Thursday. The votes will be counted on Friday, with the result anticipated in the afternoon. This marks the first time a by-election has been required to fill a vacancy for one of England's combined authority mayors.
The election is being conducted using the supplementary vote (SV) system, a method also employed in 2017 and 2021. Under SV, voters rank candidates with a first and second choice. If a candidate secures over 50% of first-choice votes, they win. If not, the two leading candidates proceed to a second round, where votes from eliminated candidates are reallocated based on second preferences. Voters are not required to select a second choice, but a first choice is mandatory for the ballot to be counted. Burnham was previously elected using the first-past-the-post system.