Labour’s Bev Craig is poised to secure the Mayor position in Greater Manchester following the largest by-election in British history. Ms. Craig is expected to take over from Andy Burnham, who left the role to become an MP for Makerfield last month. The new Prime Minister has established a No10 office in Manchester, signaling the region’s increasing political significance.
Initially, Reform UK was seen as a strong contender for the coveted mayoral post, as Mr. Burnham works to decentralize power from Westminster. However, activists were reportedly diverted to Clacton, where Nigel Farage faces a challenging contest against Count Binface in another by-election.
In recent days, two major national polls have shown Labour surpassing Mr. Farage’s party for the first time in over a year, highlighting Reform UK’s mounting difficulties.
While Bev Craig from Labour is currently the frontrunner for the Greater Manchester mayoral race, Reform and the Green Party have been vocal about their prospects.
Today, the outcome of Greater Manchester’s mayoral election, marking Labour’s first electoral test since Andy Burnham’s departure, will be revealed. Over two million eligible voters from the area, encompassing Manchester and neighboring towns like Rochdale, Bury, Stockport, Wigan, and Bolton, participated in the election.
The vote count is set to commence at the Co Op Arena at 9 am, with official results expected later in the day, likely in the early afternoon. However, preliminary voting trends will likely emerge earlier, so stay tuned to this blog for real-time updates.
In a separate incident, a café owner in Hastings, Barry Ashley, who provided free meals to underprivileged children after school meal vouchers were discontinued, faces potential police action from a Reform council leader. The owner criticized the council’s decision not to issue meal vouchers and accused it of neglecting children in need.
Mr. Ashley, supported by local businesses, has been serving over 70 free meals daily at his non-profit cafe in response to the council’s voucher discontinuation. Labour MP Helena Dollimore has launched a petition demanding the voucher reinstatement, condemning the council’s actions as unacceptable and endangering children.
Mr. Ashley emphasized the dire poverty situation in Hastings, expressing dismay at the abrupt removal of meal vouchers without proper alternatives or assessments in place.
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