James Whitfield
Politics Correspondent
James Whitfield is the Politics Correspondent at The Manchester Daily, covering local government, the combined authority, the mayor’s office and the decisions shaping the city-region.
He explains what the council and Greater Manchester’s leaders are actually doing — and what it means for the people who live here — in plain English.
James’s latest articles
Green Party says mayoral by-election is 'straight race with Reform' as Labour selects candidate this week
Trafford councillor Geraldine Coggins has been named the Green Party's candidate, claiming the contest is a repeat of Gorton and Denton. Labour insists it is a two-horse race and says the Greens "cannot win the mayoralty."
Starmer reportedly 'resigned' to stepping down as Burnham allies grow confident of 'coronation'
The PM faces a "hard deadline" of Tuesday's cabinet meeting to set out a timetable for his departure, with a senior ally giving only a "25% chance he fights on" and ministers being told the "game is up."
Burnham's allies say he could replace Starmer 'within weeks' as Harman proposes three-way leadership meeting
The scale of Burnham's Makerfield victory has prompted talk of him replacing the PM within days, while Harriet Harman has called for Starmer, Burnham and Streeting to be "got in a room" to agree a process for Labour MPs to choose their leader.
Burnham's Makerfield win triggers Greater Manchester mayoral by-election on July 30
The region's first directly elected mayor described leaving the role as "a wrench" but said Greater Manchester "can't achieve everything it should" without "big changes at the national level." The election will use the supplementary vote system.
'This is a final chance to change': Burnham wins Makerfield and warns Labour MPs after crushing Reform
Andy Burnham won nearly 55% of the vote, beating Reform by more than 9,000 ballots. He told his party "there will be no second chance" as allies called on Starmer to agree a "managed way forward."