Andy Burnham wins second term as Greater Manchester Mayor

Andy Burnham has been re-elected for a second term as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, as he comfortably defeated his rivals in the contest winning 67.31% of the vote.

Mr Burnham secured 473,024 of the votes, compared to his closest contender in the race, the Conservative candidate, Kathryn Evans, who won 137,753 votes in first preference votes.

Mr Burnham won 63.4% of the votes cast in 2017 and turnout this year was up by about 5% on the last election, to 34.7%.

The former minister’s confrontation with the government over coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester last year saw him dubbed ‘King of the North.’

He has also campaigned on a platform of introducing a “London-style” public transport system, a named, contactable police officer for every resident, better homes and jobs and a promise that Greater Manchester would be zero-carbon by 2038.

Hr also criticised the Tory government’s initial response on financial support during last autumn’s regional lockdown.

The mayoral election was scheduled to take place in May 2020 but was postponed, along with a number of other local votes, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking after the result was declared, he said: “This vote sends a clear message to all Westminster parties.

“People are buying into English devolution. They are telling you to deliver more of it, not less.”

In Salford Labour’s Paul Dennett has been re-elected with a very healthy 59% vote share securing 30892 votes in total.

In Merseyside, Steve Rotherham has also been re-elected as the Liverpool City Region mayor.