Sadness, anger, delight, disinterest. Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, and the end of his time as Greater Manchester mayor, has sparked all manner of emotions among voters in his former patch.
Burnham held the mayoral job for nine years, winning three elections, and for many commentators he has become synonymous with Manchester’s resurgence.
He will now be hoping he can convince voters across the country that he is the right man to lead Britain instead of Sir Keir Starmer.
But not all of his former mayoral constituents will be sad to see the back of him.
“What has he was actually done for Manchester?” said Dudley, a 64-year-old decorator from Bury, in the hours after the seismic by-election result. “Not a lot. I don’t think so anyway. He’s made a lot of promises, but nothing’s ever happened.”
