The Greater Manchester mayoral election has offered a glimpse of the choice facing Britain at the next general election, with Reform UK emerging as Labour’s principal challenger and the Conservatives pushed into a distant fourth place.
Labour’s Bev Craig was always expected to benefit from the so-called “Burnham bounce” in the new Prime Minister’s own backyard. She was elected to succeed him with 47.2% of first-preference votes, while Reform UK’s Sian Astley finished second on 21%. The Conservatives received just 7.7%.
Yet Labour’s support fell sharply compared with the previous mayoral election. Andy Burnham received 63.4% and 420,749 votes in 2024. Craig secured 251,449 first preferences this time - nearly 170,000 fewer votes.
This was also the first Greater Manchester mayoral contest to require a second round. Under the supplementary vote system used in 2017 and 2021, Burnham won more than 50% of first preferences and was therefore elected immediately. The 2024 election was held under first-past-the-post.
Reform UK’s first-preference vote share, meanwhile, rose from 7.5% in 2024 to 21% - nearly three times its previous level. Astley took Reform UK into the run-off ahead of five other candidates. After second preferences were counted, Craig finished with 309,525 votes against Astley’s 157,178.
With Labour and Reform UK the only parties left standing in the second round, the result reinforced the increasingly binary choice facing voters: a stale Labour government or a Reform UK government offering a clear alternative. The Conservatives’ collapse to less than 8% proves they are no longer serious contenders.
The result also demonstrated the strength of Reform UK’s candidates, drawn from outside professional politics. Astley is a property developer and television presenter who runs a design and property business. A Manchester University graduate and former Labour voter, she was elected as a Reform councillor for Baguley in May and now leads the Reform group on Manchester City Council.
“I am feeling really, really happy with the result that we delivered, Reform UK, and myself, and my team across Greater Manchester”, Astley said.
Following the result, Astley said she was excited to return to her work as a Reform UK councillor for Baguley.
Labour’s Bev Craig was always expected to benefit from the so-called “Burnham bounce” in the new Prime Minister’s own backyard. She was elected to succeed him with 47.2% of first-preference votes, while Reform UK’s Sian Astley finished second on 21%. The Conservatives received just 7.7%.
Yet Labour’s support fell sharply compared with the previous mayoral election. Andy Burnham received 63.4% and 420,749 votes in 2024. Craig secured 251,449 first preferences this time - nearly 170,000 fewer votes.
This was also the first Greater Manchester mayoral contest to require a second round. Under the supplementary vote system used in 2017 and 2021, Burnham won more than 50% of first preferences and was therefore elected immediately. The 2024 election was held under first-past-the-post.
Reform UK’s first-preference vote share, meanwhile, rose from 7.5% in 2024 to 21% - nearly three times its previous level. Astley took Reform UK into the run-off ahead of five other candidates. After second preferences were counted, Craig finished with 309,525 votes against Astley’s 157,178.
With Labour and Reform UK the only parties left standing in the second round, the result reinforced the increasingly binary choice facing voters: a stale Labour government or a Reform UK government offering a clear alternative. The Conservatives’ collapse to less than 8% proves they are no longer serious contenders.
The result also demonstrated the strength of Reform UK’s candidates, drawn from outside professional politics. Astley is a property developer and television presenter who runs a design and property business. A Manchester University graduate and former Labour voter, she was elected as a Reform councillor for Baguley in May and now leads the Reform group on Manchester City Council.
“I am feeling really, really happy with the result that we delivered, Reform UK, and myself, and my team across Greater Manchester”, Astley said.
Following the result, Astley said she was excited to return to her work as a Reform UK councillor for Baguley.
