Greater Manchester is poised for a significant electoral contest on 30th July, as the region prepares to elect a new mayor following Andy Burnham's departure. Burnham, who has held the post since its inception in 2017, recently won the Makerfield by-election, necessitating his resignation from the mayoral role. The upcoming election will see candidates vie for a position that has become increasingly influential in shaping the future of the conurbation.
The creation of the Greater Manchester mayoral role stems from devolution legislation introduced by the Conservative government after 2010. While a 2012 referendum saw Manchester reject a directly-elected city mayor, the concept of a regional or metropolitan mayor was subsequently negotiated directly between the government and the ten Greater Manchester councils. This paved the way for the first mayoral election in 2017, where Andy Burnham secured a decisive victory with 63.4% of the vote. He went on to win two further elections in 2021 and 2024, demonstrating consistent public support for his leadership.
The Greater Manchester mayor possesses a broad range of devolved powers, among the most extensive of the 14 directly-elected regional mayors in the UK. Notably, the mayor assumes the responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the region, a role that legally prohibits them from simultaneously serving as a Member of Parliament due to potential conflicts of interest. This consolidation of powers ensures a unified approach to local policing and governance.
Beyond policing, the mayor is responsible for the fire and rescue service, oversees the Local Transport Plan, and holds significant powers related to land, including the ability to acquire land for development purposes. The role also encompasses oversight of certain skills and adult education initiatives, alongside governance of various local health commissioning budgets. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which the mayor leads alongside the borough leaders, further outlines the mayor's mandate to improve life for residents by collaborating with local councils, businesses, and public services, as well as representing the region nationally and internationally to attract trade and investment.
The electoral process for metropolitan mayors has seen changes since the roles were established. The inaugural 2017 election utilised the traditional first-past-the-post system. However, the 2021 election adopted the supplementary vote (SV) system, which allowed voters to indicate a first and second choice. Under SV, if no candidate secured over 50% of the initial vote, all but the top two candidates were eliminated, and second-choice votes from those eliminated were reallocated. This run-off mechanism aimed to ensure a broader mandate for the winning candidate, although in 2021, Burnham won outright in the first round. Following the 2021 elections, the system reverted to first-past-the-post for subsequent mayoral contests, including the upcoming 30th July vote.
The Greater Manchester mayor's term of office is typically four years, though the region has experienced three mayoral elections in the past nine years due to the initial 2020 election being postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming election provides an opportunity for the region to choose a new leader who will continue to drive its strategic development and represent its interests on a wider stage.