Greater Manchester Mayoral Election Set as Burnham Moves to Westminster
Greater Manchester will hold a mayoral by-election on July 30, 2026, following Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament. Burnham’s resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election has triggered an immediate race for his successor while simultaneously igniting a high-stakes leadership challenge against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Key Highlights
- Election Date Confirmed: The Greater Manchester mayoral by-election is officially scheduled for July 30, 2026.
- Burnham’s Westminster Return: Andy Burnham secured 55% of the vote (24,927 votes) in Makerfield, positioning him for a potential future Labour leadership bid.
- Labour Selection Underway: Applications for the Labour candidacy opened Friday and close Sunday, with Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig emerging as the strong favorite.
- Opposition Third-Party Battle: The Green Party and Reform UK are framing the mayoral race as a direct contest between their respective platforms following recent local election surges.
With Andy Burnham having to stand down as Mayor following his by-election victory, The Greater Manchester Mayoral election has been confirmed for 30 July.
As for who will be the next mayor?
It is being reported that applications for the Labour candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election opened at 5pm today and will close on Sunday, with long-listing on Monday and short-listing on Tuesday.
Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig is the strong favorite and may well get the nomination unopposed.
She has, it is being reported, confirmed to the Manchester City Council Labour group that she is applying to be the Labour candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral election. She told her group the Labour selection will be a full democratic process.
The Greens, again it is being reported, have picked Geraldine Coggins, the partyβs leader on Trafford Council, as their candidate for Greater Manchester mayor.
The party believed that the contest is eminently more winnable than Makerfield and could be a straight fight with the Reform UK candidate.
It is expected that Reform will be looking for a stronger candidate in the campaign after criticism of Robert Kenyon’s performance in Makerfield.
Future Outlook
The upcoming mayoral race will serve as a critical test for the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer. While Andy Burnham historically dominated the regionβsecuring more than 60% of the vote in 2017, 2021, and 2024βcurrent polling indicates a sharp decline in broader party popularity across Manchester.
Recent local elections on May 7 saw Labour lose hundreds of council seats to Reform UK on the right and the Green Party on the left. Furthermore, a recent third-place finish behind both parties in the Gorton and Denton by-election has emboldened opposition campaigns. Green Party Leader Zack Polanski has already declared the race a direct battle between the Greens and Reform UK, while Labour officials warn that shifting away from their platform risks stalling major regional infrastructure and public transit expansions.
FAQs
When will the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election take place?
The by-election has been officially confirmed for July 30, 2026, following the resignation of Andy Burnham.
Why did Andy Burnham step down as the Mayor of Greater Manchester?
Burnham resigned after winning the parliamentary seat of Makerfield with 55% of the vote, marking his return to Westminster as an MP.
Who is the favorite to become the Labour candidate for the mayoral race?
Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig is currently the front-runner and is widely expected to secure the nomination.
Who are the main opposition candidates in the election?
Geraldine Coggins, the leader of the Green Party group on Trafford Council, has been selected to run, while Reform UK is expected to field a new candidate following the Makerfield results.
