Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Devolved combined authority for ten Greater Manchester boroughs; Andy Burnham its directly elected mayor since 2017.
Last refreshed: 14 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
If Burnham goes to Westminster, who leads Greater Manchester and what happens to the Bee Network?
Timeline for Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Josh Simons quits Makerfield for Burnham
UK Local Elections 2026- What powers does the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have?
- GMCA has devolved powers over transport (including bus franchising and Metrolink), housing and planning strategy, economic development, adult skills, and health and social care integration. It does not control NHS spending directly.Source: GMCA
- What happens to Greater Manchester if Andy Burnham becomes Labour leader?
- If Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election and pursues the Labour leadership, GMCA would need an unscheduled mayoral by-election to replace him as Mayor of Greater Manchester.Source: Lowdown / UK election rules
- What is the Bee Network and why is it significant?
- The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's integrated transport brand covering franchised buses and Metrolink. It is the first fully franchised public-bus network in England since Thatcher-era deregulation in 1986 and is seen as a proof-of-concept for re-regulation nationally.Source: GMCA
- How many people live in Greater Manchester?
- The Greater Manchester Combined Authority area has a population of approximately 2.9 million across ten boroughs.Source: GMCA / ONS
Background
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) was established in April 2011 under powers in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It covers ten local authority areas — Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Wigan, and Bolton — with a combined population of approximately 2.9 million. The GMCA holds devolved powers over transport (including Bee Network buses and Metrolink), housing and planning strategy, economic development, adult skills, and (from 2016) health and social care integration. It is the UK's most extensive devolution settlement outside London and Scotland.
Andy Burnham has served as the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester since May 2017, re-elected in 2021 and 2024. Under his tenure the authority became a prominent voice for the 'northern powerhouse' agenda and for renationalising public transport, culminating in the Bee Network bus franchising — the first fully franchised public-bus network in England since deregulation in 1986. Burnham became a consistent critic of central government on NHS waiting times, transport underfunding, and poverty policy, projecting a profile beyond local government. In May 2026, Labour MP Josh Simons resigned his Makerfield seat to create a parliamentary vacancy for Burnham, who cannot stand in a Labour leadership contest without a Commons seat.
The GMCA model has been used as the template for subsequent English combined-authority deals in West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and South Yorkshire. Its direct-election model — contested across party lines — is now the standard for English devolution. If Burnham leaves for Westminster, the authority faces an unscheduled mayoral election to find a successor.
