What time will the Greater Manchester mayoral election results be announced and will there be an exit poll?

More than two million voters will decide who is to replace Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor, with the polls set to close in hours.

The prime minister called on the public to back Labour’s Bev Craig at the by-election, saying she will make sure “every town, every borough” shares in the region’s success.

Mr Burnham resigned from the post earlier this year as part of his plan to become prime minister, triggering the most significant by-election in UK history which laid out his path to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.

Seven candidates are standing to succeed Mr Burnham as mayor: Ms Craig (Labour), Phil Eckersley (Conservatives), Geraldine Coggins (Green Party), Sian Astley (Reform UK), Richard Kilpatrick (Liberal Democrats), Marlon West (Restore Britain) and Marcus Farmer (Independent).

Residents of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan will be able to have their say on Thursday.

It is also the first time former mayor Mr Burnham has not appeared on the ballot paper, after the role of metro mayor was created in 2017. He came first in all 10 areas in 2017, 2021 and 2024

Before polling day, Mr Burnham said serving as mayor for nearly a decade was an “immense privilege”.

He added: “After years working alongside Bev Craig, I have no doubt that she will work every single day to build on the progress we’ve all made together.

When will results be announced?

Polls are due to close at 10pm on Thursday 30 July, with the count scheduled to take place at Co-op Live from 9am on Friday.

The election was triggered by Andy Burnham’s resignation (PA)

This means results aren’t expected to be declared until Friday afternoon at the earliest, unlike in a general election when the count takes place overnight.

However, the results could come out later in the day if second preference votes need to be counted because the results are so close.

Will there be an exit poll?

There is typically not an exit poll for the Manchester mayoral election. Exit polls, announced by the major broadcasters, usually only take place at UK general elections.

Local and mayoral elections generally do not have equivalent exit polls because they are expensive to carry out.

Polling for the mayoral election has seen Labour’s Ms Craig sit comfortable in the lead, around 20 points ahead of Ms Astley of Reform UK.

The Greens’ Ms Coggins was projected third at 14 per cent, and Conservatives Mr Eckersley projected 4th with 12 per cent in the latest More in Common poll.

In a second round run-off between the two, Ms Craig would win 65 per cent of the vote and Ms Astley 35 per cent.