Labour’s Bev Craig will succeed Andy Burnham as the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
After no candidate secured outright victory in the first round by winning more than half of the vote, Craig beat Reform UK’s Sian Astley by 309,525 to 157,178 after second-preference votes were added.
The by-election for a new mayor was called after Burnham was elected as MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester in June, paving the way for him to become Prime Minister earlier this month.
As well as having led Manchester City Council since 2021, Craig is Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s deputy mayor for economy, business and inclusive growth.
Craig, the UK’s first female metro mayor, said the city region that had given the world the Suffragettes had “changed the world” and would do so again in the future.
She promised: “I will defend this city region with every bone in my body and I will fight for a better life for all of us.”
Thanking those who voted for her as well as others who had “loaned their votes” as second preferences, she said: “The special ‘thank you’ has to go to the residents of Greater Manchester.
“I’m honoured, I’m humbled and I stand ready to serve.”