Greens Leapfrog Labour into Second Place After Historic By-Election Win, Poll Shows
The Green Party has overtaken Labour to become the second most popular party in the United Kingdom, according to a new poll released in the wake of their sensational victory at last week's Gorton and Denton by-election. This dramatic shift in the political landscape marks a significant milestone for the Greens, who have seen their support jump by four points to 21 per cent in the latest survey.
Polling Data Reveals Major Realignment
Conducted by YouGov for Sky News on Sunday and Monday, the poll of 2,073 people shows Labour and the Conservatives tied on 16 per cent, both down two points, with Labour recording its lowest score on record. Reform UK remains out in front with 23 per cent, down one point, while the Liberal Democrats stayed unchanged on 14 per cent.
The Greens are now the most popular party in all age categories under 50, commanding 49 per cent support among 18-24 year olds and 27 per cent among 25 to 49-year-olds. This demographic dominance underscores the party's growing appeal among younger voters disillusioned with traditional political options.
By-Election Victory Fuels Surge
Anthony Wells, head of global polling at YouGov, attributed the Greens' leap in popularity directly to their triumph in the Gorton and Denton by-election. "This victory has made the Greens appear a more viable option and less of a wasted vote," Wells explained, highlighting how electoral success can transform public perception of smaller parties.
The by-election result proved devastating for Labour, with their candidate Angeliki Stogia finishing third in a seat the party previously won with more than 50 per cent of the vote. This outcome represents a major blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's struggling authority, coming amid devastating approval ratings and mounting concern over the direction of his government.
Political Leaders Respond to Changing Landscape
Addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday following the bruising defeat, Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that "politics is changing, and it's changing decisively." This statement recognized voters' increasing willingness to support political parties beyond the traditional Conservative-Labour duopoly.
However, Starmer maintained that "there is a mainstream majority in this country who neither want Nigel Farage or Zack Polanski as their prime minister." He insisted Labour is delivering "progressive change" with "moral purpose" under his leadership, pointing to legislation like the Employment Rights Act and Renters' Rights Act as examples of policies aimed at helping Labour's traditional voters.
Historic Moment for Green Party
The polling news came just hours after the Green Party's newest MP, Hannah Spencer, was sworn into Parliament on Monday following her victory in last week's by-election. Spencer – a councillor and plumber – received 14,980 votes, becoming the party's fifth MP in the House of Commons and giving the Greens their highest ever representation in Parliament.
Reform UK's Matt Goodwin finished second with 10,578 votes, while Labour slumped to third place with just 9,364 votes, down dramatically from 18,555 in the 2024 general election despite similarly high turnout in this formerly safe Labour seat.
Experts Describe 'Seismic' Shift
Top pollster Professor Sir John Curtice described the result as "seismic," warning that it "means the future of British politics is now even more uncertain than it was already." This assessment reflects how the Greens' breakthrough has fundamentally altered the political calculus, challenging established assumptions about voter loyalty and party viability.
The Green Party's surge in the polls following their by-election success demonstrates how electoral victories can create momentum for smaller parties, potentially reshaping the British political landscape for years to come as traditional allegiances continue to fracture.
