The Greater Manchester Mayoral Election That Britain Forgot

As Greater Manchester prepares to elect its first new metro mayor since the creation of the office in 2017, the contest has been overshadowed by two national stories that have consumed the political spotlight. With Andy Burnham now in Downing Street and a bizarre by-election in Clacton dominating headlines, the campaign to lead England's largest city region outside London has felt remarkably subdued. This neglect raises fundamental questions about the unfinished nature of England's devolution journey and whether shifting power from Whitehall can succeed if public attention remains stubbornly fixed on Westminster.

The Significance of the Mayoral Election

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the mayoral job in Greater Manchester. The next person in post will inherit responsibility for the Bee Network, policing oversight, housing and regeneration, adult skills, aspects of health policy, and a budget running into billions of pounds. They will also become the public face of a city region of nearly three million people at a moment when devolution appears set to accelerate under Burnham's nascent government. In short, there could scarcely be a more vital time for this election to be happening.

Why the Campaign Has Struggled for Attention

The answer lies less with the candidates than with the extraordinary political moment. Normally, a contest to replace one of Britain's best-known politicians would command sustained attention. Instead, it has been squeezed by two national stories that have consumed almost all available political oxygen. Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street has become the defining political story of the summer, with every cabinet appointment and policy announcement generating headlines. The second story is the parliamentary by-election in Clacton, framed as another crucial test of Nigel Farage and Reform UK's electoral strength. With 34 candidates including Count Binface and Baron Von Thunderclap, the by-election has become something of a circus, drawing national media attention away from Greater Manchester.

Voter Awareness and Turnout

Some senior party sources have expressed concern about how few people appear to know that an election is taking place. One man on the street assumed that Bev Craig would take on Andy Burnham's job almost as though it were a succession. He will not be the only person to think that. Despite the growing influence of the mayoralty, turnout has remained relatively modest. The inaugural election in 2017 saw 28.9 per cent of voters cast a ballot, with Burnham winning convincingly on 63.4 per cent of the vote. Four years later, turnout increased only slightly to around 34 per cent, and the most recent election in 2024 produced the highest turnout yet at 32.05 per cent. Those figures suggest Greater Manchester's mayoralty has become more important faster than it has become embedded in public consciousness.

Key Issues and Dividing Lines

The campaign has perhaps lacked one defining issue capable of dominating public debate. Burnham's earlier campaigns were associated with clear political narratives, whether standing up to Westminster during the pandemic, bringing buses back under public control, or championing further devolution. This campaign has been fought across a broad range of policy areas, from transport and housing to policing and economic development, but without one issue emerging as the clear dividing line between candidates. However, the Manchester Evening News mayoral hustings revealed sharp dividing lines on immigration, housing, gender identity, and crucially Labour's record. Bev Craig and the Labour administration were repeatedly accused of ignoring the outer boroughs in favour of sustained growth in the city centre.

The Broader Implications for Devolution

The gravitational pull of Westminster still dominates news agendas and public debate. Even when the biggest local election in England is taking place, it can struggle to compete with events in Parliament or another high-profile parliamentary by-election. That is not necessarily a criticism of voters or the media. Burnham becoming Prime Minister is an historic moment, while Clacton carries obvious national significance. But it does highlight the unfinished nature of England's devolution journey, and just how much of a shift will be required, not just in terms of power, but also in terms of attention. Whoever emerges victorious next week will inherit far more than Andy Burnham's office. They will take charge of an increasingly powerful institution at a time when Greater Manchester appears likely to enjoy unprecedented influence at the heart of government. The irony is that an election with such significance has largely been fought while the political spotlight has been shining somewhere else. That should give politicians and voters pause for thought.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Greater Manchester mayoral election important?

The next mayor will control a budget of billions of pounds and oversee transport, policing, housing, and aspects of health policy, making it one of the most powerful elected positions outside London.

What is causing the low voter turnout?

Turnout has remained modest because the mayoralty has grown in power faster than it has become embedded in public consciousness, and national media attention has been focused on Westminster and the Clacton by-election.

How does this election relate to devolution?

The contest highlights the challenge of shifting political attention away from Whitehall, even as formal powers are devolved to regions like Greater Manchester.