Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Bev Craig Captures 66% to Win Manchester Mayoral Election

8/4/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bev Craig Wins

Bev Craig was elected mayor of Greater Manchester on 1 August 2026 after a runoff.
She won 66.3% (309,525 votes) versus Reform UK’s Sian Astley who received 157,178 votes.
Turnout fell just under 25%, the lowest for any Greater Manchester mayoral election since 2017.
Following Andy Burnham’s July 2026 rise to prime minister, his government announced on 31 July 2026 that mayors may retain a share of locally collected taxes.

Summary

Labour Bounce

Labour’s average poll rating rose to the mid-20s in early August, its highest since early 2025, marking a “Burnham bounce” after the new prime minister took office.
Reform’s average poll rating fell to 24 % after Nigel Farage announced on 7 July that he would stand down.
Conservative support rose to 20 % in the polls, the first time the party has reached that level since the previous spring.

History

Historical Context

The Labour Party’s 1990s push for a directly elected mayor led to the 1998 Greater London referendum, where 72 % voted for a mayor-assembly model and the Greater London Authority Act 1999 created the office. Ken Livingstone’s 57.9 % win in May 2000 proved the model viable, shaping later devolution such as Bev Craig’s 66.3 % Greater Manchester mayoral victory in August 2026.

1 of 3

Bev Craig Wins

Bev Craig was elected mayor of Greater Manchester on 1 August 2026 after a runoff.
She won 66.3% (309,525 votes) versus Reform UK’s Sian Astley who received 157,178 votes.
Turnout fell just under 25%, the lowest for any Greater Manchester mayoral election since 2017.
Following Andy Burnham’s July 2026 rise to prime minister, his government announced on 31 July 2026 that mayors may retain a share of locally collected taxes.

1 / 3