Voters across Greater Manchester, the roughly three-million-strong urban region encompassing Manchester city and ten surrounding towns in northwest England, went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new mayor — a vote that carries significance well beyond a local contest. The election was triggered by the rapid political ascent of Andy Burnham, who served as the region's first directly elected mayor from 2017 until this June, when he entered Parliament and subsequently replaced Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister on 20 July. Labour's candidate is Bev Craig, currently leader of Manchester City Council, who faces six rivals including Sian Astley of the right-wing populist party Reform UK and candidates from the Greens.

The election serves as an early referendum on Burnham's flagship policy: a sweeping devolution agenda that would hand regional mayors across England new powers over housing, education, and social care — areas currently controlled from London. Burnham has already opened