Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced intense scrutiny last night after failing to commit to visiting the Manchester constituency of Gorton and Denton, where Labour is embroiled in a critical by-election battle. The Labour leader refused three times to confirm he would join the ground campaign, as reports emerged that some within his own party believe he would not be welcome.
A Battle on Multiple Fronts
The looming contest, scheduled for February 26th, presents a significant challenge for Labour. The party is fighting to prevent its former voters from deserting to the Greens while simultaneously attempting to keep the surging Reform UK at bay. Sir Keir has framed the election as a direct confrontation between Labour and what he termed the 'plastic patriots' of Reform UK.
Avoiding the Campaign Trail?
When questioned by reporters during his diplomatic trip to China and Japan, Sir Keir was evasive. "Firstly I think we’re selecting our candidate this morning and then we’ll set out our campaign plan. But I’ve been campaigning all the time across the country," he stated. Pressed further on whether he would personally go canvassing, he reiterated, "We’ll set our campaign plan when we’ve got our candidate in place."
His comments have revived suspicions that Labour headquarters may deliberately keep him away from the constituency. This strategy is reportedly due to his record low popularity ratings nationwide, which could potentially harm the campaign. The Prime Minister notably avoided another north-west by-election campaign in Runcorn a year ago, a contest Labour ultimately lost to Reform UK by a mere six votes.
Internal Criticism and Historical Precedent
One Labour MP was blunt in their assessment, telling the Mail on Sunday, "You won’t see him in Gorton. He’s toxic, and a Londoner to boot. He gets altitude sickness up there." This sentiment echoes the party's approach from the previous by-election. When asked why Sir Keir did not visit Runcorn, then-party chairman Ellie Reeves remarked, "Prime ministers don’t normally campaign in by-elections."
Since that loss, Sir Keir's political standing has deteriorated further. His government has been forced into numerous policy U-turns and has struggled to deliver on key pre-election promises. The latest YouGov polling places his net favourability rating at a staggering minus 57, his lowest to date and among the worst recorded for any Prime Minister, surpassed only by the short-lived Liz Truss.
The Candidate and the Contest
Labour has selected Manchester councillor Angeliki Stogia as its candidate for Gorton and Denton. This follows the controversial decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, a potential leadership rival, from standing. The seat was vacated by Andrew Gwynne after the Mail on Sunday revealed offensive messages.
At her campaign launch, Councillor Stogia presented herself as a "proud Mancunian woman" who has "walked the streets of this constituency." She emphasised unity, stating, "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."
Defining the Political Stakes
Sir Keir sought to define the by-election on his own terms, focusing the narrative squarely on a clash with Reform UK. He pointed to the recent endorsement of Reform's candidate by far-right activist Tommy Robinson as a pivotal moment. "That tells you everything about the politics they intend to inject into this by-election, the politics of poisonous division," the Prime Minister asserted.
He concluded, "So it’s Labour versus Reform, and we will fight for renewal, for inclusive communities and bringing people together, and for true patriotism against the plastic patriotism of Reform. Only Labour can beat Reform, and therefore it’s the only way to win this by-election."
The Prime Minister's reluctance to commit to a personal visit, coupled with internal party dissent and historically poor polling, casts a long shadow over Labour's campaign in a constituency it cannot afford to lose. The outcome will be a crucial test of Sir Keir's leadership and the party's ability to hold its ground against a resurgent Reform UK and other challengers.
