- The successor to Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor is expected to be announced on Friday, marking the new prime minister's first electoral test.
- Vote counting for Thursday's by-election began at 9.30am, with the final result anticipated no earlier than Friday afternoon.
- The contest was triggered after Andy Burnham was elected as the MP for Makerfield and subsequently became the leader of the Labour Party.
- Labour candidate Bev Craig, currently the leader of Manchester City Council and an ally of Mr Burnham, is widely predicted to win comfortably.
- Reform UK's Sian Astley and the Green Party's Geraldine Coggins are expected to compete for second place in the election.
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