The British ruling party Labor will retain the mayoralty of the Manchester metropolitan region even after Andy Burnham became prime minister. The Labor candidate Bev Craig won the necessary by-election in the second round of vote counting, well ahead of the candidate from the right-wing populist Reform UK party, Sian Astley
“I am honored, humbled and ready to serve the three million people who live in this great metropolitan region,” said Craig. “As a girl who grew up on a council estate, I never thought I would one day have the chance to stand for the place I love.”
The previous leader of Manchester City Council had been considered the favorite but failed to reach the required 50 per cent of votes after the first count, so the second votes from the ballot papers of the eliminated candidates had to be added. According to the BBC, Craig received a combined 309,525 votes, while Astley received 157,178. Voter turnout was low at around 25 percent.
Manchester closely linked to government business in London
The new mayor will work closely with Burnham in the future. The 56-year-old directs government affairs in the United Kingdom not only from London, but also from the branch office he created in Manchester, the so-called “No 10 North.”
The branch office is also intended to symbolize Burnham’s plans to bring more power and decision-making authority to the regions. The Labor politician, known as the “King of the North”, is seen as the governing party’s great hope for emerging from the months-long crisis under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
As mayor, Burnham had built up a reputation as a doer in Greater Manchester over the years. The image of the “local lad” (boy next door) helped the 56-year-old gain great popularity in the region and throughout the United Kingdom.