Voters right across Greater Manchester will head to the polls on Thursday 6th May.
In what is being dubbed by some as the largest and most complex set of elections ever set to take place across the UK following more than a year of suspension due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, those heading to their local polling station will not only vote 2021’s elections, but also 2020 too.
Voters across the North West will this year be choosing from hundreds of local councillors, Police & Crime Commissioners, and a number of different types of Mayors.
While this is not the case within Greater Manchester, in some areas of the North West region, voters could be faced with up to seven different ballots papers on election day, with additional elections also taking place for parish councils or local planning referendums too.
So, what are we voting on in Greater Manchester this year?
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Greater Manchester Combined Authority Mayoral Election – This role includes Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester Police.
Local Council elections – 34 local councillors to be elected in Manchester, and there are also two councillor vacancies, one in the Brooklands ward and one in the Openshaw ward of the City of Manchester.
Are you voting in the local and GM Mayoral elections on 6 May?
You'll be given two ballot papers, with two different voting methods.
Please follow the instructions on the papers so you know how to vote correctly. pic.twitter.com/Ly2HRgv4DO
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) April 29, 2021
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is a legal body which allows the Greater Manchester councils to formally cooperate with each other and partners on large-scale strategic projects that are of importance to the whole region, like transport, regeneration and skills, fire, policing, business and low carbon initiatives.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester is a major figure in the political life of the region, and is entrusted with unique powers and responsibilities.
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Polling stations will be open between 7am to 10pm.
Although the polls will be open as normal on Thursday 6th May, it is expected that more people will apply for postal votes this year, and it has also been confirmed that a number of necessary COVID-safety measures will be put in place at polling stations on the day.
Candidates will also need to maintain social distancing during the election campaign.
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At polling stations, voters will need to wear face coverings – unless medically exempt – and social distancing measures will be widely enforced, along with hand sanitising stations.
It is also advised that voters bring their own pens or pencils to mark ballot papers.
GM Elects
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there will be emergency measures for people who have tested positive prior, or who have been forced to self-isolate.
Under this circumstance, an emergency proxy can be appointed up to 5pm on polling day.
Although the checking or verification of the votes will begin immediately after polling stations close at 10pm on Thursday 6th May, it is expected that it will take several days before all the results are known.
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You can find more information via the GM Elects website here.
Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
News
More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
The Manc -
5th May 2021 
