Greens Seize Historic Victory in Gorton and Denton By-Election
In a stunning political upset, the Green Party has clinched its first ever parliamentary by-election victory, snatching the formerly safe Labour seat of Gorton and Denton. This result delivers a humiliating blow to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, intensifying scrutiny over his leadership amid Labour's plummeting support.
A Dramatic Shift in Voter Allegiance
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer, a local councillor and plumber, stormed to victory with an impressive 14,980 votes. Reform UK's Matt Goodwin secured second place with 10,578 votes, while Labour's candidate Angeliki Stogia slumped to a dismal third with just 9,364 votes. This marks a catastrophic decline from Labour's 18,555 votes in the 2024 general election, despite a similarly high turnout.
The Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received a mere 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats trailing closely at 653. This outcome represents the sixth largest Labour majority overturned in a by-election since the Second World War, highlighting the seismic nature of this political shift.
Leadership Under Fire
Sir Keir Starmer's decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from contesting the by-election—triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne's resignation—is now facing renewed criticism. Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell appeared to concede defeat early, acknowledging that Green leader Zack Polanski had successfully argued his party was best positioned to counter Reform UK in the area.
Labour has long positioned itself as the primary alternative for voters opposing Reform UK, but this defeat severely undermines that claim. Instead, it bolsters the Green Party's credibility and further erodes Labour's already weakening support base.
Victory Speech Highlights Public Discontent
In an emotional address, newly elected MP Hannah Spencer, 34, declared that people are being "bled dry" and are "sick of our hard work making other people rich." She praised her party's "hopeful campaign" and asserted, "we have shown that we don’t have to accept being turned against each other." Spencer also took aim at "politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society."
Green Party leader Zack Polanski hailed the remarkable 27.5 per cent swing from Labour to the Greens, predicting, "If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs."
Labour's Response and Reform UK's Reaction
Labour chairwoman Anna Turley described the result as "clearly disappointing" but sought to downplay its significance, stating, "By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different." She added that Labour had engaged in thousands of conversations with voters who largely rejected "the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform."
However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage celebrated the outcome as a "victory for sectarian voting and cheating," praising candidate Matt Goodwin and looking ahead to future elections with the declaration, "It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party."
Allegations of Electoral Irregularities
The by-election was marred by reports from election observer group Democracy Volunteers, which warned of high levels of "family voting"—where voters collude or direct each other—in 68 per cent of the 22 polling stations monitored. This practice was outlawed by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023, raising concerns about electoral integrity.
A Conservative Party spokesperson seized on Labour's defeat, stating, "Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labour’s safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader."
This historic by-election result not only reshapes the political landscape in Manchester but also signals profound challenges ahead for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party as they grapple with declining authority and a resurgent Green movement.
