Labour suffered a humiliating defeat in the Gorton and Denton byelection, finishing third behind the Greens and Reform UK. The party had initially dismissed the Greens as a threat, with strategists insisting it was a two-horse race against Reform. However, the Greens' candidate, Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, ran a highly effective grassroots campaign that resonated with voters disillusioned with Labour.
Labour's campaign was plagued by internal issues, including the blocking of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing and the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal. Voters repeatedly cited dissatisfaction with the government's performance. Despite dispatching cabinet ministers and deploying a massive get-out-the-vote operation, Labour's optimism proved misplaced as polling and betting markets indicated a different outcome.
The Greens' confidence was evident early on, with detailed plans for Spencer's victory celebrations even before polls closed. Labour aides privately hoped for rain to depress turnout, but the weather cleared, boosting the Greens and Reform. By 10pm, Labour's Andrew Western acknowledged the difficulty of byelections for incumbent governments, blaming 'anger and easy answers' from opponents.
At the count, Labour conceded defeat by 1am, with a source claiming the party had turned out support in a way it couldn't replicate at a general election—a remark dismissed as 'desperate' by a Green spokesperson. The Greens celebrated wildly, with deputy leader Mothin Ali crowd-surfing hours before the result was declared.
Labour MPs admitted privately that attacking the Greens as 'extremists' backfired, as Spencer came across as a relatable, likable candidate. One MP said, 'It made us look like even we didn't believe what we were saying.' The result has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, raising questions about Labour's strategy and the Greens' growing appeal.
