Ministers want new voting system in place for possible Manchester mayor race

Ministers are speeding up the implementation of a new voting system to ensure it will be in place in the event of a mayoral election in Greater Manchester this year.

The changes would see a switch from First Past The Post (FPTP) - used in general elections - to the Supplementary Vote system.

Under the Supplementary Vote system, voters get to choose a first and second choice.

If no single candidate wins more than 50% of the vote share after first preference votes are counted, the top two candidates go into a run-off second round in which second preference votes from the eliminated candidates are taken into account.

This system was in place for police and crime commissioners and mayors until 2022, when it was switched to FPTP, under which there is one round and the candidate with the most votes wins.

The Conservative government at the time argued that FPTP was a "fair and simple" system which ensured "clearer accountability".

After winning the 2024 general election, the Labour government passed a law reintroducing the Supplementary Vote for elections for mayors and police and crime commissioners.

The change had been expected to come into place after May 2026 in time for the next set of elections due in May 2027.

However, if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield constituency, he will have to resign from his role as Greater Manchester Mayor, immediately triggering a new election for the role.

In a written statement, the government said it was "taking action to seek parliamentary approval to deliver that change in all scenarios".

Local Government Minister Samantha Dixon said: "The government is conscious that there is now a possible scenario in which a mayoral election may need to be held in Greater Manchester in the coming months, subject to the outcome of the parliamentary by-election in the Makerfield constituency."

She said the government hoped the change could be in force by 19 June, the day after the Makerfield by-election is due to take place.

She said the Supplementary Vote system was "suitable for the election of single executive office holders, such as mayors" and argued that it "ensures a broader level of support for the person elected".

She added that the government would "work with the Electoral Commission and local authorities to support implementation of this change".

First Past The Post continues to be used for UK general elections and elections to English councils.

Reform UK, the Lib Dems, the Green Party, SNP and Plaid Cymru have all expressed support for a more proportional voting system.

Elections to the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments use a proportional voting system.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supported electoral reform during his bid to become Labour leader in 2020 but has since dropped his pledge and did not include it in the party's 2024 general election manifesto.

Earlier this month, more than 60 Labour MPs called for a rethink of FPTP, arguing that the existing system is "broken".