Labour Candidate Bev Craig Wins Greater Manchester Mayoral Election

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 1, 2026

Bev Craig was elected mayor of Greater Manchester after a rare second round of voting, succeeding Andy Burnham with 309,525 votes to Reform UK’s 157,178. Her victory maintains Labour’s control of the region and comes as Prime Minister Burnham unveils plans to increase mayoral powers through local tax retention, potentially enhancing Craig’s authority.

Bev Craig has been elected mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeding Andy Burnham in a closely watched contest marked by a historically low voter turnout. The election, held on July 31, 2026, was the first in Greater Manchester’s history to require a second round of voting to declare a winner. Craig, representing the Labour Party, secured victory over Reform UK candidate Sian Astley after the second count, accumulating a total of 309,525 votes compared to Astley’s 157,178.

Craig received 47.15 percent of the vote in the first round, narrowly missing the outright majority needed to win without a runoff. The low turnout—only about 25 percent of the more than two million registered voters participated—was the lowest for a mayoral election in the region, falling below the 28.9 percent reported in 2017. Analysts attributed this dip in voter engagement partly to election fatigue, as residents of Greater Manchester have experienced multiple high-profile polls this year, including by-elections and local council contests in key constituencies such as Gorton, Denton, and Makerfield.

A former leader of Manchester City Council, Craig has been described as a protégé of Andy Burnham, who left the mayoral office to become the UK prime minister earlier this year. Her victory marks the first electoral test of Burnham’s premiership and underscores Labour’s improving national fortunes. Labour allies had previously cited concerns about losing control of Greater Manchester as a reason to keep Burnham in place, but Craig’s win has maintained the party’s hold on the influential regional position.

Despite Labour’s success, the election results were disappointing for both Reform UK and the Green Party. Reform, led by Nigel Farage, entered the race with expectations fueled by strong local election performances, including winning 24 out of 25 seats in Wigan earlier this year. However, the party has now suffered three setbacks in Greater Manchester in 2026, failing to convert local momentum into the mayoral seat or by-election victories. The Green Party, which had aimed to mount a serious challenge following gains in local elections and a recent parliamentary win in Gorton and Denton, did not make it to the runoff.

Craig addressed supporters at the Co-op Live arena, pledging to defend the city region and improve the quality of life for its residents. She emphasized the importance of expanding the powers of the Mayor’s office, a stance aligned with Burnham’s previous calls for greater regional autonomy. This message gained particular relevance as Burnham, now prime minister, announced on the same day that English mayors would be allowed to retain a share of taxes collected locally, including income tax and business rates. The policy aims to devolve more power from Westminster to local leaders, potentially granting Craig more authority than her predecessor had during his nine-year tenure.

As mayor, Craig will be tasked with steering Greater Manchester’s economic growth and public services during a time of significant political and social challenges. Her election ensures the continuation of Labour leadership in one of the UK’s most prominent city regions, even as voter engagement raises questions about public confidence in regional governance.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.