Manchester Mayor Wins Parliamentary Seat in Special Election

A mayor won a parliamentary seat in a special election held on Thursday in Makerfield. The mayor, who has led the Greater Manchester region since 2017, received decisive support and defeated the candidate from the Reform UK party.

The mayor previously served in Parliament from 2001 to 2017 and held cabinet positions between 2007 and 2010. During the COVID-19 pandemic the mayor criticized the central government's approach to the crisis and gained the nickname King of the North. As mayor the office holder placed the local transport system under public control and branded it the Bee Network.

The mayor pledged to extend local policies nationally, including improved vocational education, lower energy bills and rail fares, and an end to trickle-down economics. A political science professor at Queen Mary University of London noted the mayor's communication skills but questioned whether regional popularity would extend across the country.

Voter Ellen Picton, 66, said she supported the mayor because he understands the concerns of ordinary residents.