Labour has officially announced its candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, selecting Manchester city councillor Angeliki Stogia after party leader Sir Keir Starmer blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing. The decision comes amid deepening internal party divisions and sets the stage for a crucial electoral battle that could reshape political dynamics in the region.
Stogia Unveiled as Labour's Choice
Angeliki Stogia, who represents Whalley Range on Manchester City Council, was unveiled to supporters on Saturday afternoon during an event in the Greater Manchester constituency. She was flanked by Labour party chairwoman Anna Turley and deputy leader Lucy Powell as her candidacy was formally announced to a crowd of Labour activists.
In her address to supporters, Ms Stogia expressed her enthusiasm for the campaign ahead. 'I am absolutely thrilled and excited, and I want to thank everyone who came to the hustings,' she told the gathering. 'I am a proud Mancunian woman. I have walked the streets of this constituency. 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.'
Background of the New Candidate
Ms Stogia brings previous electoral experience to her new role as Labour's candidate. She was previously selected as a Labour candidate in the 2024 general election for Chester South and Eddisbury, where she gained 32.1 percent of the vote and came second behind Conservative MP Aphra Brandreth, who received 37.9 percent.
The by-election was prompted by the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne, who stood down citing health reasons. In the 2024 election, Mr Gwynne won the seat for Labour with more than half the vote - securing 18,555 votes while Nigel Farage's Reform UK came second with 5,142 votes, narrowly beating the Greens who received 4,810 votes.
Burnham Blocked Amid Leadership Concerns
The announcement comes just days after Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) rejected Andy Burnham's request to stand in the by-election. In a meeting that lasted just 45 minutes, the NEC voted eight to one against the Mayor of Greater Manchester's candidacy, with the decision ostensibly based on concerns about the cost of electing a new mayor to replace him.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those who voted against Mr Burnham, as was party chairwoman Anna Turley. Only Lucy Powell, the Labour deputy leader who is also a Manchester MP, voted in favour of him running. The decision has deepened existing party divisions and highlighted concerns among Starmer allies about potential leadership challenges.
Allies of Sir Keir reportedly feared that Mr Burnham, who has styled himself as the 'King of the North', might be seeking re-election to Parliament as part of a plan to ultimately challenge and replace the embattled party leader. Any leader of the Labour Party must be a sitting MP, making the by-election particularly significant for internal party dynamics.
Burnham's Response to the Decision
Following the NEC's decision, Andy Burnham took to social media to express his disappointment. 'I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that,' Mr Burnham said. 'We are stronger together and let's stay that way.'
The Greater Manchester Mayor had announced his desire to run in the by-election for Labour last week, but his ambitions were swiftly blocked by Starmer and his allies. The decision comes amid ongoing tensions within the party, particularly following Mr Burnham's manoeuvres last year for a potential leadership bid that threatened to overshadow Labour's party conference in September.
Competition from Other Parties
The by-election is being seen as a crucial test for the Prime Minister amid record-low approval ratings, with Labour attempting to prevent Reform UK from gaining another MP following recent high-profile defections of Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman. The contest has attracted significant attention from multiple political parties.
Reform UK has unveiled their candidate as GB News presenter Matt Goodwin, a 44-year-old former academic whose family is from Manchester. Appearing at a press conference in the constituency to announce his candidacy, Mr Goodwin positioned himself as an outsider. 'I am not a career politician. I am not a Tory. I am not part of the establishment. I am not part of the Westminster blob,' he declared. 'I am, like many people in this seat and millions of people in this country, hard-working taxpayers who are just fed up of watching what is happening to their communities and to their home.'
Green Party's Contender
The Green Party has opted for plumber and trainee plasterer Hannah Spencer, 34, who will be aiming to pick up enough votes from Labour to force a shock result. Ms Spencer was named as the Green candidate at an event in Gorton and Denton alongside party leader Zack Polanski on Friday.
According to the latest polls, the constituency is on a knife-edge, with research by Find Out Now putting Reform UK on 36 percent and Labour on 33 percent, while the Greens are a distant third with 21 percent. The Conservatives have yet to announce their candidate for the by-election.
Political Significance of the By-Election
With the by-election being seen by some Labour backbenchers as a referendum on Sir Keir's leadership, nerves are heightening following candidate announcements from Reform UK and the Greens. The Prime Minister was absent from Labour's candidate announcement as he is currently on an official visit to Japan.
The contest represents more than just a local election - it has become a symbolic battle that could indicate broader political trends. For Labour, it represents an opportunity to demonstrate unity and strength following internal divisions. For Reform UK, it offers a chance to build on recent momentum and establish a stronger parliamentary presence. And for the Greens, it provides a platform to challenge traditional party dynamics in the region.
As campaigning intensifies in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on Gorton and Denton to see how voters respond to these competing visions and candidates in what promises to be one of the most closely watched by-elections of the current political cycle.
