The Manchester mayoral result holds the key for the future of progressive politics | Neal Lawson
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>Voters on the left are more fragmented than ever – but they will pull together behind a convincing cross-party message</p><ul><li><p>The author is director of the cross-party campaign organisation Compass</p></li></ul><p>The results of the election for a new mayor to succeed Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester show progressives standing at the threshold of a new era. But only if they work together.</p><p>The new mayor, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/31/labour-wins-decisive-victory-in-greater-manchester-mayoral-byelection">Bev Craig</a>, was elected using the supplementary vote, which uses voters’ second preference if no one wins more than half the vote in the first round. Despite the Burnham bounce, Labour received only 47% of the vote in the first round, well down on Burnham, who never achieved below 63% in his three campaigns. But when second preferences kicked in, <a href="https://britainelects.substack.com/p/mancman-backs-burnham-who-knew">it’s estimated that about seven in 10</a> progressives who had backed other parties piled in behind Craig.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/01/bev-craig-manchester-mayoral-result-key-to-future-progressive-politics">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Voters on the left are more fragmented than ever – but they will pull together behind a convincing cross-party messageThe author is director of the cross-party campaign organisation CompassThe results of the election for a new mayor to succeed Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester show progressives standing at the threshold of a new era. But only if they work together.The new mayor, Bev Craig, was elected using the supplementary vote, which uses voters’ second preference if no one wins more than half the vote in the first round. Despite the Burnham bounce, Labour received only 47% of the vote in the first round, well down on Burnham, who never achieved below 63% in his three campaigns. But when second preferences kicked in, it’s estimated that about seven in 10 progressives who had backed other parties piled in behind Craig. Continue reading...
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