🟥 LIVE: Greater Manchester mayoral election with results and updates from the count

The result of the Greater Manchester mayoral by election is expected later today as officials count hundreds of thousands of ballot papers.

The result of the Greater Manchester mayoral by election is expected later today as officials count hundreds of thousands of ballot papers.

The editorial team from the Oldham Evening Chronicle are at the Co-op Live to bring you all of the updates throughout the day.

Greater Manchester will elect a new mayor today after voters went to the polls on Thursday to choose Andy Burnham's successor.

This election is being held under the supplementary vote system, allowing voters to select both a first and second preference candidate. If no one achieves an outright majority in the opening count, all but the leading two candidates are eliminated before second preference votes are redistributed.

Seven candidates are contesting the election.

• Sian Niamh Astley for Reform UK
• Geraldine Coggins for the Green Party
• Bev Craig for Labour and the Co operative Party
• Phil Eckersley for the Conservative Party
• Marcus Jonathan Farmer, Independent
• Richard Kilpatrick for the Liberal Democrats
• Marlon West for Restore Britain

The successful candidate will take responsibility for key decisions affecting Greater Manchester, including policing, transport, housing, economic development and the region's overall budget.

 We have our first turnout figures. The Manchester Council turnout is 22.73%, low for such a high publicised by-election

The count continues across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. However, political reaction is already coming in.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party has praised Bev Craig and the Labour Team for their "really positive campaign", adding that it was focused on "taking our city-region forwards and making sure every town, every borough, and every person shares in Greater Manchester’s success."

You can read more here 

Welcome to our Live coverage of the Greater Manchester Mayoral By-Election.