Labour Announces Angeliki Stogia as Candidate for Gorton and Denton By-Election
The Labour Party has officially selected Manchester city councillor Angeliki Stogia as its candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election. The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon at a launch event within the constituency, where Stogia addressed a gathering of Labour activists.
Background to the By-Election and Candidate Selection
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne, who stepped down citing health reasons. Gwynne had held the seat for Labour since 2005, securing over half the vote in the 2024 general election with 18,555 votes. In that election, Reform UK came second with 5,142 votes, narrowly ahead of the Greens on 4,810.
Stogia, who serves as the Manchester city councillor for Whalley Range and was first elected in 2012, emphasised her local connections during her speech. "I have walked the streets of this constituency," she stated, describing herself as a "proud Mancunian woman." She framed the contest as a matter of civic unity, saying, "This is about Manchester. Manchester is a city united, we are rejecting division. I am so looking forward to going out on the doorstep and winning this for Labour."
Internal Labour Divisions and Broader Political Context
The candidate selection process has been overshadowed by internal party strife. Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was denied permission to stand for the party, a decision that has sparked significant division within Labour ranks. In the aftermath, Burnham expressed frustration about "people just think they can say what they like to the media" regarding his blocked bid.
This tension was further highlighted by Steve Rotheram, the Labour mayor of the Liverpool City Region, who criticised a culture of anonymous briefings from within Government. On social media platform X, Rotheram wrote that those responsible for whispering campaigns against Burnham were "gutless," adding, "These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents. For the sake of our party, please just stop."
Opposition Candidates and Electoral Dynamics
As Labour aims to position the by-election as a straight fight with Reform UK, Stogia's candidacy was unveiled with support from senior party figures, including Labour party chairwoman Anna Turley and deputy leader Lucy Powell. However, the electoral landscape is competitive:
- Reform UK has selected GB News presenter and former academic Matt Goodwin as its candidate.
- The Green Party will be represented by councillor and plumber Hannah Spencer.
- The Liberal Democrats have named local campaigner Jackie Pearcey.
An early opinion poll has suggested that Labour's support could weaken in this seat, with Reform UK and the Greens potentially gaining a larger share of the vote. However, it is important to note that the survey had a small sample size, which may result in a larger-than-usual margin of error, making predictions uncertain at this stage.
The by-election in Gorton and Denton is shaping up to be a critical test for Labour, not only in terms of electoral performance but also in managing internal cohesion following the controversial exclusion of a high-profile figure like Andy Burnham.
