Doesn't surprise me. West Yorkshire had a vote if they wanted a mayor in 2012 and voted no. The government then ignored the vote and announced the position anyway in 2016.

Basement Jaxx 110  Billy Bragg 90 Chase & Status 150 MAX CMAT 150 MAX  Confidence Man 130 David Byrne 150 MAX Everything Everything 110 Faithless 75  Fatboy Slim 100 Four Tet 130 (+5) Garbage 120  GOAT 85 (-5) Greentea Peng 125  Joy Crookes 110  Kneecap 125 Lorde 150 MAX The Maccabees 120  Nile Rodgers & Chic 130 The Prodigy 150 MAX Pulp 150 MAX RAYE 100 Richard Ashcroft 110  Scissor Sisters 110  Self Esteem 140  The Streets 100  Super Furry Animals 100 Underworld 150 MAX Wilco 40  Wolf Alice 150 MAX

Also agree, it does feel that there isn’t much between the Mercury Prize and the Brit Awards these days.   This part sums it up for me “The complaint isn’t so much about the quality of the music, but more the disappearance of spaces for outsider voices in British music. With streaming algorithms feeling increasingly geared towards big names, and social media acting as a minefield, the Mercury’s pivot to the mainstream closes another door in the face of creative independence.”

In Manchester 22.7%. Jesus.

25.14%