Bureau report
Manchester
The Labour Party will face the Green Party in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election to be held on Thursday, 30 July. This seat became vacant after the resignation of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who secured his parliamentary seat from the Makerfield constituency. There are six candidates for the mayoral seat and voters will cast their votes across the 10 councils of Greater Manchester.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has completed the arrangements for the mayoral election. Postal ballots have already been issued, while polling will be held on Thursday, 30 July, between 7.00 am and 10.00 pm. Photo ID is a legal requirement before voting at a polling station. The Greater Manchester area is made up of 10 council areas, including Manchester City Council, Bolton, Salford, Bury, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Trafford, Rochdale and Wigan, where people will participate in this by-election. The candidates contesting the election are Marlon West of the Restore Britain, Sian Astley Reform UK, Geraldine Coggins Green Party, Richard Kilpatrick Liberal Democrats, Bev Craig Labour Party and Phil Eckersley of the Conservative Party.
According to political observers, there is close competition between the Labour and Green candidates. This is the third time both parties will face each other. During the parliamentary by-election in the Gorton constituency, Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer pushed Labour into third position, while Green Party candidates also won seats in the recent local council elections.
“Labour Party is trying hard to rebuild trust among left-wing voters after the change in leadership as well as Andy Burnham becoming the Prime Minister, and this time Labour may secure the Greater Manchester mayoral seat,” sources added
