Kemi Badenoch doesn’t really need to speak in public more than once a month and she’ll do ok. In that respect, keeping her head down is proving very effective.

Sniping from the sidelines and criticising everyone clearly has merit. 🙃

I'd imagine that the majority of people wanting reform voted.

If not, they didn't really want reform they're just paying lip service.

4 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

I'd imagine that the majority of people wanting reform voted.

If not, they didn't really want reform they're just paying lip service.

When they lose, it's never their fault. So who's to blame this time? The establishment? Muslim 'family voting? Rupert Bear?

7 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

When they lose, it's never their fault. So who's to blame this time? The establishment? Muslim 'family voting? Rupert Bear?

The reform bingo is quite funny.

I've seen all sorts mentioned this morning.

We lost because the new system favours labour

Immigrants will vote for labour (Strange it was Green's last month allegedly)

The system is rigged

They've been rubbing out pencil votes

They've ignored postal votes for reform

not enough people voted.

We don't want to be in Greater Manchester that's why people didn't vote

People didn't understand how to vote for a second choice

It's block voting

2 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

We lost because the new system favours labour

I forgot about that. Yeah FPTP would have made a real difference!

4 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Yep.

Irrespective of who wins, this should be a huge concern to all politicians.

Initially no candidate got over 50%.

Given that only 25% of those eligible could be bothered, that means that only approximately 10% of those eligible actually votes for the winner.

Democracy in action? Yes.

A dereliction of voter responsibility? Yes.

A public showing just how fed up they are with politicians, and how little they're bothered about mayoral positions? Yes.

Shocking state of affairs.

Pretty much all of the above, but top of the pile is probably the lack of interest in voting for a mayor, very few seem to give a fuck about that.

34 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

They've been rubbing out pencil votes

Saw a few folks clutching their pens when I went to vote. Still makes me chuckle that 🤣

People should be concerned about who is Mayor under Burnham’s plans for Regional Devolution. For my part, having a Labour Mayor in GM is the best pragmatic approach rather than another at odds with the PM or government.

Institute for Government

Andy Burnham’s devolution announcement is a strong start...

Changes on tax, new powers and institutions show Burnham means business.

3 hours ago, mickbrown said:

There was a referendum to see if Manchester wanted an elected mayor. They didnt.

The powers that be ignored them and gave the whole region a mayor instead.

Hardly surprising nobody gives a fuck

Absolutely.

Not sure how much power they really have neither.

Another layer of bureaucracy and wasted money v a local champion with ideas for the area that sound good, but aren't easy to fulfil.

Not entirely convinced by the current desire to devolve even more to the regions neither. We already have local authorities, which are overseen by waring political councillors.

More layers than an onion.

On 31/07/2026 at 14:28, Cheese said:

Jesus wept. How did this pass me by?

Watched that and this followed. 70’s mainstream comedy. Not sure about the reference to Streeting but humour is humour.

X (formerly Twitter)

steve (@bagshaw2112) on X

The new Government Defence Secretary visiting the Royal Navy today 😳😳😳😃😃

Tom Swarbrick, ex advisor to Theresa May talking sense, it isn't an easy fix for any government regardless of what colour rosette they have.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HGfuLH93f/

I voted, but this second choice vote confused me when doing so and wasn't sure to do one or not. I did in the end so voted Lib Dem as my second choice. I only realised what the second choice reasoning was when the 50% explanation came out as the results came in. I wonder if any Labour first choice put Reform as second choice or vice versa. I can't understand why people who have a postal vote don't vote as it takes about a minute. Can only presume they just don't give a fuck, as they are all as bad or good as each other. If not a postal vote then they just can't be arsed going to a polling station, which I've been guilty of at times previously. Or another reason was they're thinking that it's not voting in a general or local election, so not interested. Personally I'd suggest it's a more important vote if anything. Anyway, I hope the lass does a good job and I think she will 👍

I think Lowe/Restore and to far right even for Farage. He will never accept this.

X (formerly Twitter)

Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) on X

The Greater Manchester result showed what Restore Britain can deliver. The next step is how we maximise the chances of delivering the change Britain needs - it means putting personal differences asid

25 minutes ago, royal white said:

I think Lowe/Restore and to far right even for Farage. He will never accept this.

X (formerly Twitter)

Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) on X

The Greater Manchester result showed what Restore Britain can deliver. The next step is how we maximise the chances of delivering the change Britain needs - it means putting personal differences asid

not sure what the mayoral election proved other than restore are behind the greens currently

he's got no chance of anything, on the ropes and now looking for someone to blame when he has to give it up as a bad job

12 hours ago, Alf Hartigan said:

I voted, but this second choice vote confused me when doing so and wasn't sure to do one or not. I did in the end so voted Lib Dem as my second choice. I only realised what the second choice reasoning was when the 50% explanation came out as the results came in. I wonder if any Labour first choice put Reform as second choice or vice versa. I can't understand why people who have a postal vote don't vote as it takes about a minute. Can only presume they just don't give a fuck, as they are all as bad or good as each other. If not a postal vote then they just can't be arsed going to a polling station, which I've been guilty of at times previously. Or another reason was they're thinking that it's not voting in a general or local election, so not interested. Personally I'd suggest it's a more important vote if anything. Anyway, I hope the lass does a good job and I think she will 👍

I'd guess the average person in Bolton had no idea that there was an Manchester Mayoral election and/or that they could vote for it.

Everyone in Bolton eligible to vote got a pamphlet with a double page spread for every candidate. It was the most information I’ve ever seen at an election in one publication. Whether people read them or not is another matter.

Not sure of the cost but I’d like to see something similar for a GE instead of the many flyers from all parties.

Edit. I’m assuming it was the same throughout GM.

Edited Sunday at 10:081 day by BobyBrno

10 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

I'd guess the average person in Bolton had no idea that there was an Manchester Mayoral election and/or that they could vote for it.

In which case they're probably not informed enough to have made a decision anyway, so it's a good thing they didn't bother.

3 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Everyone in Bolton eligible to vote got a pamphlet with a double page spread for every candidate. It was the most information I’ve ever seen at an election in one publication. Whether people read them or not is another matter.

Not sure of the cost but I’d like to see something similar for a GE instead of the many flyers from all parties.

Edit. I’m assuming it was the same throughout GM.

We got one at the last mayoral election too.

2 hours ago, Zico said:

not sure what the mayoral election proved other than restore are behind the greens currently

he's got no chance of anything, on the ropes and now looking for someone to blame when he has to give it up as a bad job

Correct. The terms are ridiculous and he'll run it into the ground like he did Southampton FC.

58 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Correct. The terms are ridiculous and he'll run it into the ground like he did Southampton FC.

Rupert Lowe could not run a football club but thinks he can run the country.

It is laughable.

1 hour ago, frank_spencer said:

We got one at the last mayoral election too.

I probably didn’t bother reading it as it was more a case of re-electing Burnham.

Anyway, here it is for anyone interested.

https://wcivf-mayoral-booklets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/booklets/2026-07-30/mayoral/mayor.greater-manchester-ca.by.2026-07-30.pdf

The most striking thing is Restore still got more votes than the Tories

Their voting bloc in the North really has collapsed

5 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

The most striking thing is Restore still got more votes than the Tories

Their voting bloc in the North really has collapsed

Outside of Labour, Restore and Reform I didn't see much campaigning by any other party.

And the Restore campaign was just Rupert doing his best Nigel impression and posing with a pint around the region.

5 minutes ago, frank_spencer said:

Outside of Labour, Restore and Reform I didn't see much campaigning by any other party.

And the Restore campaign was just Rupert doing his best Nigel impression and posing with a pint around the region.

It's true they didn't exactly throw everything at it but they got three times as many votes last time

23 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

The most striking thing is Restore still got more votes than the Tories

Their voting bloc in the North really has collapsed

Don’t they know that Kemi is the new Thatcher?

Number crunching (rounded down at some point) for the Bolton Wards (does include Walkden for the GE)

General Election (only votes for Reform and Labour)

Reform 35.4% Labour 64.6%

GM Mayor Election

Reform 42% Labour 58%

Personally feel that reform have peaked, but they have progressed in Bolton.