Voters in Manchester choose mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street
Manchester voters are heading to the polls to elect a new mayor following Andy Burnham's departure to become the UK's Prime Minister. The election is viewed as a test of the Labour Party's popularity under the new leadership.
Why it matters
The mayoral race reflects shifting political dynamics in the UK and serves as a barometer for public sentiment toward the governing Labour Party.
Voters in the English city of Manchester are electing a new mayor on Thursday (July 30, 2026) to replace Andy Burnham, who quit the position to become Britain's Prime Minister.
It's also chance for some 2 million voters to pass judgment on the governing Labour Party, whose sagging popularity Burnham hopes to revive. Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with vote-counting starting Friday morning (July 31, 2026).
Mr. Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester for nine years until he won a special election for a seat in Parliament last month with the intention of challenging then Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.
Mr. Burnham's momentum spurred Mr. Starmer to announce he would resign after just two years in office. Mr. Burnham was the only candidate in Labour's leadership election, and he became Prime Minister on July 20.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in