Manchester goes to the polls again.

 It was a considerable victory for the Labour Party candidate for the Majority of the city. Andy Burnham stood down and eventually ended up as the prime minister. So the new mayor is Bev Craig, a veteran politician for the Labour Party. Reform essentially came a poor second with only 21.0 per cent and 157,178 - on the second preference vote. Labour on the other hand managed 47.1 per cent with 167,84, second preference votes cast. Could this be the - high water mark for Reform? They’ve had a torrid few weeks of bad publicity dealing with irregular financial problems and have consequently been referred to the Electoral Commission for investigation. In recent weeks the leader of Reform has lost some of his - Tiggerish bounce. I do hope this is the beginning of the end of the Reform Party - they were a useful foil to the Conservatives and Labour, but perhaps the - shine has gone off? Is Nigel Farage a’busted flush’? I do hope so. This is a positive result for Labour and will help the prime minister, settle the nerves of the party as we approach the autumn and party conferences and the budget on the 28 October. The first one for the new chancellor John Healey.