'Devolution is working and it is time now to go much further'

ANDY Burnham has won four more years as Greater Manchester mayor in an 'emphatic' re-election result.

- JOSEPH TIMAN

The Labour politician secured support from more than 420,000 people, having won in almost every part of the city-region - even where his party lost council seats.

It comes after a 'challenging' set of local elections for Labour in Greater Manchester in which the party suffered significant setbacks.

Despite enjoying success elsewhere in the country, Labour lost control of Oldham council and key seats in Bolton and Rochdale.

The war in Gaza, and criticism of the party's stance on the conflict, was a decisive factor that saw Labour lose votes in some areas. But these results were not reflected in the mayoral election in which the incumbent candidate secured 63.4 per cent of the total votes.

Labour believe that Mr Burnham came first in all but one council ward across Greater Manchester - Werneth in Oldham where there was no Labour candidate on the ballot.

Even in areas which elected Conservative councillors on Thursday, Mr Burnham still succeeded.

Taking to the stage after the results were announced yesterday, Mr Burnham acknowledged the support he received from people who usually vote for other parties. He declared this 'new politics' pioneered in Greater Manchester 'emphatically' endorsed.