Andy Burnham's successful bid for the Makerfield parliamentary seat has set in motion the search for a new Mayor of Greater Manchester. His return to Westminster means the influential regional position, which he has held since 2017, must now be filled through a by-election scheduled for 30 July. This development marks a significant shift for the city-region, which has seen Burnham lead on major initiatives in transport, health, and education during his tenure.
The necessity for a new mayoral election stems from the inherent conflict of interest that prevents a sitting Member of Parliament from simultaneously serving as a regional mayor. The Greater Manchester mayoral role carries extensive responsibilities, notably incorporating the duties of the Police and Crime Commissioner and overseeing the fire service. This involvement in policing budgets and influence over law enforcement bodies makes it incompatible with an MP's legislative responsibilities in Parliament.
Burnham's nine years as Mayor saw him implement significant policies, including the introduction of free travel for 16 to 19-year-olds and a half-price pass for 18 to 21-year-olds. He also spearheaded the integration of the region's bus network under the Bee Network brand, with plans to incorporate all local rail services by 2030. The mayor's office also chairs a cabinet composed of the leaders from all ten Greater Manchester boroughs, manages the Metrolink tram service, and shares responsibility for the substantial £6 billion health and social care budget, alongside control over the post-19 adult education budget.
The upcoming by-election is projected to cost approximately £4.7 million, a figure that was reportedly a factor in the Labour Party's decision to block Burnham's earlier attempt to become a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February. For residents in Makerfield, this means they will be heading to the polls for the third time in just three months, having already participated in local council elections in May and the recent parliamentary by-election.
A notable change for this election will be the reintroduction of the Supplementary Vote (SV) system. Under SV, voters indicate both a first and second choice. If no candidate secures more than 50% of first-preference votes, the top two candidates proceed to a run-off, with second-preference votes from eliminated candidates then redistributed. This system was previously used for mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections until 2022, when it was replaced by the first-past-the-post system. The change back to SV for combined authority mayoral by-elections was recently enacted through The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment Order) 2026.
In his victory speech following the Makerfield by-election, Burnham expressed a mix of sadness at leaving his mayoral role but underscored his belief that Greater Manchester's full potential could only be realised through national-level changes. He is widely anticipated to mount a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer once he takes his seat in Westminster.
Source: BBC North West