A date has been confirmed for a Greater Manchester mayoral by-election if Andy Burnham wins a seat in Parliament in Makerfield.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said July 30 has been identified as the date any mayoral by-election would take place.

This would allow 'the maximum number of people to vote', the authority explained.

Andy Burnham is running to become an MP in Makerfield.

The Makerfield by-election is being held on June 18 and polls suggest it could be a close race between Labour and Reform UK, whose candidate is local plumber Robert Kenyon.

Around 2.1 million people are registered to vote in Greater Manchester's mayoral election, and of these, around 400,000 choose to do so by post.

The GMCA's returning officer, Caroline Simpson, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "If the Makerfield by-election result triggers a mayoral by-election, Greater Manchester will be legally required to hold a by-election within 25-35 working days.

"To ensure we are ready, we have identified July 30 as the date which will allow the maximum number of people to vote, whether in person, by post or by proxy.

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"This will avoid holding an election during the peak holiday period in August and will mean that postal votes will arrive just before, or only a day or two into, the school holidays.

"While Greater Manchester's returning officers are very experienced at running elections, the lead time for a mayoral by-election would be shorter than for a scheduled poll.

"So, following legal advice, and with support from government and the Electoral Commission, we have begun essential preparation work such as booking polling stations. We are doing this in advance of, not in anticipation of, the Makerfield by-election outcome on June 19."

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