Labour beats Reform UK in Liverpool by‑election as close Greater Manchester mayoral poll looms

Labour candidate Louise Nolan secured the Liverpool City Region by‑election with 835 votes (51% of the vote), comfortably defeating Reform UK’s Christopher Charlton‑Kingsley, who received 596 votes (36%). Turnout was 26%, higher than typical for a by‑election, and the result comes a week after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation.

A separate poll for the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election shows Labour ahead of Reform UK by a narrow margin: Labour at 33.2% and Reform at 30.1%, with the Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats trailing. The survey, conducted among 1,143 residents, indicates cost of living, health care and crime are key issues for voters. The poll also notes that the government recently reinstated the Supplementary Vote system for mayoral contests, replacing first‑past‑the‑post.

Both stories highlight Labour’s ongoing efforts to retain dominance in traditionally strong regions while facing a rising challenge from Reform UK, a party that performed strongly in recent local elections.