Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayor race, beating Reform UK’s Sian Astley after second-preference votes were counted.
Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayor race, taking over as the region’s new mayor after the final round of counting put Labour well ahead of Reform UK. The Greater Manchester mayor contest was decided by second-preference votes after no candidate cleared the majority mark in the first round.
Craig finished on 309,525 votes, compared with 157,178 for Reform UK’s Sian Astley once the additional preferences were added. In the first round, Craig led with 46.5% of the vote, while Astley was on 22.2%. That left ballot papers cast for other candidates to be rechecked and transferred according to voters’ second choices, a process that can be decisive in mayoral elections run under this system.
The by-election came after Andy Burnham stepped down from the post when he was elected as MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester in June. Burnham later moved on to become Prime Minister earlier this month, creating the vacancy that sent voters back to the polls. Craig now takes charge of one of England’s biggest city regions, with responsibility for a diverse urban area that stretches across Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs.
Craig already held two prominent roles in local government. She has led Manchester City Council since 2021 and serves as deputy mayor for economy, business and inclusive growth at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Her victory makes her the UK’s first female metro mayor, a milestone she highlighted in her remarks after the result.
“Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester mayor race, beating Reform UK’s Sian Astley after second-preference votes were counted.”
Speaking after the count, Craig said the city region that had given the world the Suffragettes had “changed the world” and would do so again. She pledged to “defend this city region with every bone in my body” and to “fight for a better life for all of us.” Craig also thanked voters, including those who gave her second-preference support, and said the residents of Greater Manchester deserved the special thanks.
She set out familiar local concerns as priorities, saying everyone should have access to a quality home in a good neighbourhood and the chance to plan for their own future and that of their children. Craig also called for a move away from divisive politics, saying the region would do that together.
More than two million people were eligible to vote across the 10 boroughs, but turnout was just under 25%. That low participation underlines a familiar problem in local contests: even major regional decisions can be shaped by relatively few voters. For Americans watching British politics, the result shows how coalition-building and ranked-style counting can reward broad support rather than first-choice enthusiasm alone. The takeaway: when people stay engaged, local elections can still deliver a clear mandate for the direction of a region.
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, offered public congratulations on social media and thanked party activists for helping secure the win.
Frequently asked questions
How did Bev Craig win the Greater Manchester mayor race?
No candidate won a majority in the first round, so second-preference votes were added. Craig then finished with 309,525 votes, ahead of Sian Astley’s 157,178.
What were the first-round results?
Craig led the first round with 46.5% of the vote, while Reform UK’s Sian Astley had 22.2%.
Why was there a mayoral election?
The contest was triggered after Andy Burnham stepped down from the role.
What does Bev Craig already do in local government?
She has led Manchester City Council since 2021 and is deputy mayor for economy, business and inclusive growth at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
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