Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a fierce attack on both the Green Party and Reform UK during a campaign visit ahead of the critical Gorton and Denton by-election this Thursday. The Labour leader stepped up his party's efforts to retain the previously safe Greater Manchester constituency, which now faces a significant electoral threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Greens.
Starmer Warns of Vote Splitting Risk
Sir Keir issued a stark warning to potential Green Party supporters, arguing that their votes could inadvertently help Reform UK secure victory in the constituency. He pointed to last year's by-election in Runcorn, where Labour lost by just six votes to Reform's Sarah Pochin, as a cautionary tale.
"In this by-election a vote for the Green Party is, in effect, a vote for Reform," the Prime Minister declared. "We mustn't let that happen again in Gorton and Denton."
Scathing Criticism of Green Drugs Policy
The Labour leader delivered particularly harsh criticism of the Green Party's stance on drug legalisation, describing their proposals as "disgusting". He specifically targeted their support for legalising heroin and crack cocaine.
"Imagine what would happen in every park and every playground in this constituency if that happened," Sir Keir stated. "As a father of a boy who's 17-and-a-half, the idea that the Green Party would make the argument that just, in a few months' time, it should be perfectly lawful to sell him heroin and crack cocaine... I find that disgusting."
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer has previously suggested that decriminalisation deserves discussion, while deputy leader Zack Polanski advocates for a "public health approach by public health professionals" towards drug regulation.
Labour's Uphill Battle in Former Stronghold
Labour faces a challenging fight to maintain control of Gorton and Denton, where they secured a comfortable 13,413 majority with over half the vote in 2024. However, the party's declining popularity since Sir Keir entered Downing Street has made the seat vulnerable to opposition challenges.
The Prime Minister's decision to personally campaign in the constituency carries particular significance, as he avoided the campaign trail during last year's Runcorn and Helsby by-election that resulted in Reform's narrow victory. During his visit, Sir Keir appeared alongside Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell and by-election candidate Angeliki Stogia.
Meeting with Potential Rival Burnham
Sir Keir also met with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who was blocked from standing as the Labour candidate in this by-election. Sources indicate the two politicians agreed on the importance of presenting a united Labour front against the Reform UK challenge.
The Prime Minister framed the contest as a fundamental clash of values, telling broadcasters: "This is a battle of values in this by-election. The values of the Labour Party, which wants to bring communities together in unity and hope, or the toxic division of Reform, that wants to tear our communities apart."
Reform UK has fielded GB News presenter Matt Goodwin as their candidate, adding media prominence to their campaign. With the by-election occurring against a backdrop of Labour's national polling difficulties, the outcome in Gorton and Denton could signal broader political shifts ahead of the next general election.
