What would you do as Andy Burnham's replacement? That's the question we put to potential voters as Greater Manchester prepares for a big shift in how it is run.

The region has seen two mayors since the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) was formed in 2015 though only one has been elected. In 2017, 2021, and in 2024, Andy Burnham was voted in but his term as mayor was cut short after he won the Makerfield by-election on June 18.

It is widely expected Mr Burnham will be Prime Minister by the end of the summer but there is now a huge power vacuum at the centre of Manchester politics. One poll suggests the race is between Labour and Reform and who wins on July 30 could lead to major change in where the region goes from here.

The mayor has enormous influence across all ten boroughs within Greater Manchester from major planning developments and regeneration, seen in places like Stockport, to transport infrastructure and the Bee Network to housing, waste disposal, health and social care. On top of this, the Mayor also oversees investment in housing, policing, and unemployment.

Five candidates have been announced so far; Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig is running for Labour, Trafford councillor Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party, councillor Richard Kilpatrick for the Liberal Democrats, campaigner against child sexual exploitation Marlon West for Restore Britain, and George Galloway said he is standing for the Worker's Party of Great Britain.

With that in mind, the LDRS went to Stockport to see what voters would do if they were the top boss at the GMCA's headquarters at 56 Oxford Street in Manchester.

In 32 degree heat, Laura Robinson argued for something that might be on a lot of people's minds, telling the LDRS: "Please can we just have air con everywhere in schools, more of the shops, children's facilities.

"It is just so hot and it's so hard when you have a little one and you have nowhere you can go."

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On a more serious note, she said there needed to be better transport links like London's Tube network and services connecting people more easily to York, Leeds, and Liverpool, and across the north. As a parent, she said there also needed to be more places people like her could go to.

Transport was the most common issue brought up with trains to town slammed as 'shocking' and a long wait for the Metrolink to come to the borough. One person said transport to and from large events needed to be better planned to avoid people being crammed onto trams afterwards.

Transport could be one thing that completely changes while the new mayor is in charge. By 2030, 96 railway stations could come under public control and the Didsbury tramline is expected to be extended to Stockport under current plans though no potential route has been published yet.

Jamie Haigherty said if trains were brought under greater public control, it would solve a lot of issues. While not a commuter by train himself, he said: "It's just shockingly bad. I do not usually go into Manchester by train but I came in yesterday from Rochdale and half the trains were cancelled for the day because of the hot weather."

He said the number of carriages on the services running meant people were crammed, adding: "It was just absolute pandemonium and the trains are just disgusting really.

"I can't imagine what it's like for the commuters that have to use that service every day twice a day."

It's not just trams, buses, and trains though. While some said Mr Burnham had done 'a cracking job' on transport, others in Stockport like Eileen felt more has to be done outside of Manchester and the next mayor 'needs to look everywhere'.

Despite thousands of homes being built across the region, people felt not enough are social or affordable and people cannot afford them 'on your average Joe Bloggs wage'. One woman Jean also pointed out Mr Burnham had promised to end rough sleeping when he was elected.

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Others felt more investment was needed in town centres and high streets. Several wanted Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens' reported antisocial behaviour and drug problems to be sorted out as a priority.

Kevin Walsh said there also needed to be better police enforcement to crack down on shops 'getting damaged day in and day out' as a result of crime, adding: "It's everywhere now. Everywhere you go they are doing it.

"I don't mind the graffiti because they make a good job of it, it's really nice but otherwise Stockport is a great place."

Stockport has seen major changes in recent years following investment in the Underbanks area as well as major projects like Weir Mill and the Stockport Interchange. This has be compared to a 'gold rush' and famously the German capital Berlin with much of it driven forward by a partnership between Stockport Council and the GMCA.

If he was elected mayor, Toby James said: "I would take what they have done with Stockport and expand that out – what they have done in the Underbanks preserving the heritage where you can and installing new businesses in it so they fit into the area rather than demolishing old buildings rather than generic tower blocks.

"There's so many skyscrapers in Manchester but it's not very charming."

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