Andy Burnham becomes Greater Manchester’s first mayor

Andy Burnham has become the first ever directly elected mayor of Greater Manchester.

Winning with 63% of the vote (359,392 votes), Burnham has claimed victory in the inaugural Greater Manchester mayoral election. 

Sean Anstee (Con) came in second, with 128,752 (27.7%) votes; Jane Brophy (Lib Dem) in third with 34,334 (6%); and Will Patterson (Green) coming in fourth with 13, 424 (2.4%)

The NQ was live at the election to record the announcement and Burnham's victory speech:

In his acceptance speech, the new Mayor announced he will end homelessness in Greater Manchester by 2020. Burnham also thanked the other candidates for keeping the campaign about policies, rather than personalities "heraling a new era for Greater Manchester politics."

Heat-map shows Labour's dominance in the election:

Who is Andy Burnham and what will he do as mayor?

• Who?

Andy Burnham was first elected as the MP for Leigh back in 2001 and is no stranger to the way the politics game is played.

Having worked his way up through the ranks of the Labour Party, first as the chief secretary to the treasury under Blaire and Brown, Burnham progressed into the role of culture secretary and finally health secretary.

After Labour lost power in 2010, the MP has since served as the party's shadow health secretary and shadow education secretary. 

• Policies?

Going against traditional political convention, Burnham enlisted the support of the public to help build his manifesto. 

Reforming the transport facilities within Greater Manchester has been a key staple of Burnham's campaign, with granting 16-18 year-olds free bus passes a particularly popular measure.

Pledging to end Manchester's homeless crisis by 2020 and a crackdown on ‘absent’ and rogue landlords have also proved popular policy among Greater Mancunians.

Burnham, who opposed the practice of Fracking in his own constituency of Leigh, also promised to ban the controversial throughout the whole of the Greater Manchester area. The former-MP for Leigh has also opposed building on the area's green belt.

• Powers?

How will the new mayor spend the £700m they have been put in charge of by Greater Mancunians? 

Police

The responsibilities of the Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) will be merged with those of the mayor, with the former position ceasing to exist. The mayor will exercise the responsibilities of the PCC.

These responsibilities will include: 

include:

• Secure an efficient and effective police force for their area;
• Appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
• Set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
• Set the force budget and determine the precept;
• Contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary;
• Bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to make sure local priorities are joined up.

Mainly, Burnham will be held accountable, alongside the chief constable, when things go wrong.

Transport

Andy will be in charge of shaping Greater Manchester's Local Transport Plan (although he will need the agreement of two-thirds majority approval of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority).

The main duties Burnham will have in relation to transport will be the area's transport budget devolved from central government and, as promised by his manifesto, regulating the bus services and introducing "smart ticketing."

Planning and Housing

Burnham will control of the £300 million Greater Manchester Housing Investment Fund.

Andy's planning powers will not override those of local councils, and the spatial development strategy cannot be adopted unless it has the unanimous approval of the Members of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).