The first electoral test for Labour under Burnham – in his own back yardpublished at 11:00 BST
11:00 BST
Rowan Bridge
North of England reporter at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena
Image source, BBC/Rowan Bridge
The verification of ballot papers is under way. That’s to check things like the number of people who’ve voted and to weed out spoilt ballot papers.
It’s the stage before the votes themselves are counted to see who will fill Andy Burnham’s shoes – and office – now that he’s swapped the mayor’s Oxford Road address for Downing Street.
The final result will be announced here at Co-op Live, the cavernous concert area.
The election is significant for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it will decide who takes up the powers that come with the office, and who will be the public face and cheerleader for the city-region.
But it’s also the largest electoral test for Labour since their disastrous results in the May local elections which ultimately cost Keir Starmer his role as prime minister, and led to the last mayor taking his job.
During those local elections in Greater Manchester, Labour lost seats to the Greens and Reform. Andy Burnham may have been PM for less than two weeks, but this is the first electoral test for his leadership, and one that will be watched closely.
If Labour lose, it will be in Burnham’s back yard and will no doubt raise questions – however premature – about how far replacing the leader can win back disaffected voters.
If Labour beat Reform UK, it will be Nigel Farage who may face questions about if Reform’s surge in the polls can be maintained.
And where might the Greens finish? After winning the Gorton and Denton by-election can they maintain the momentum? We’ll know the answers to all these questions by the end of today.