See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 11:28 BST, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 14:27 BST, 17 July 2026
Labour is on course to remain in charge of Greater Manchester as a new poll shows Bev Craig on course to replace Andy Burnham as mayor.Ms Craig has a 14 point lead over Reform's Sian Astley, 38 per cent to 24 per cent, in the first round of voting on July 30, and would win the second round head-to-head 62-38, according to YouGov.It is the second poll this week to hand a comfortable win to Labour in an election Reform initially had strong hopes of winning.It comes after Mr Burnham's comfortable win in the Makerfield by-election last month, in which Reform did worse than expected.At the same time, it is diverting time and resources into fighting the by-election called by Nigel Farage in Clacton amid a row over the party's financial arrangements.YouGov's Greater Manchester poll found that 66 per cent of voters believe Mr Burnham did a good job as mayor, including a majority of Conservative, Green and Lib Dem supporters and more than a third (36 per cent) of Reform voters.At the same time a plurality (44 per cent) saying he was right to quit and stand to be Labour leader.
