The one suburb Andy Burnham didn’t win in Greater Manchester - it's Werneth
Reporter: Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter
Date published: 14 May 2024
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham
The full result of Greater Manchester’s mayoral election has been revealed - and it shows there is just one suburb where Andy Burnham didn’t win.
The Labour man secured his third term of office on May 4 with 63.4 percent of the vote, down slightly from the 67.3 percent he enjoyed during the last race in 2021.
His 420,749 votes were enough to comfortably see off the Conservatives in second place, with Laura Evans winning 68,946 votes - or 10.4 percent.
This week, ward-by-ward results have been released for the 215 Greater Manchester polling districts.
Last time out, Mr Burnham won all 215 wards.
However, his performance dipped in 2024 marginally - as he only won 214 wards.
That lone ward which didn’t back Burnham isn’t a leafy area of Stockport represented by a Conservative MP, as one might expect.
It’s the Oldham suburb of Werneth.
There, the mayor came second by 411 votes to the independent candidate Nick Buckley.
Mr Buckley, who came third in the race overall with 7.6 percent, gained 1,661 votes in Werneth.
Werneth was notable at this year’s local elections, as it was the only Greater Manchester ward without a Labour candidate standing.
In the council elections held on the same day, Nyla Ibrahim beat Amjad Ali to win the previously Labour-held seat -- a two-horse race between independents.
Following his victory, Mr Burnham - previously Leigh MP from 2001-17 - said ‘being elected to represent Greater Manchester for the third time means absolutely everything to [him]’.
He added in his acceptance speech: “I can honestly say I have never given anything less than my all to this job.
"I have tried to be there for all communities and everyone who lives here - and I promise to do so again.
“For centuries, Greater Manchester has prided itself on the solidarity between its people.
"I have tried to be true to that.”
Mr Burnham has been quick to set out his stall in his first fortnight of office since the election, outlining his plans to tackle the city-region’s housing crisis, and re-confirming Kate Green as his deputy mayor.
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