Starmer Condemns Reform UK Over Far-Right Endorsement in Crucial Manchester By-Election
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK, criticising what he termed the "politics of poisonous division" after the party's candidate in an upcoming by-election received an endorsement from far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The political row erupted as campaigning intensified for the Gorton and Denton constituency in Greater Manchester, a seat Labour is fighting to retain.
By-Election Becomes Battleground Over Political Principles
During the final leg of his diplomatic trip to East Asia, Sir Keir was questioned about whether the forthcoming vote should be interpreted as a referendum on his premiership. The Prime Minister responded by framing the contest as a clear choice between Labour and Reform UK on fundamental principles. "It is very much and very clearly now a by-election between Labour and Reform on key principles," Starmer declared from Shanghai, where he was walking the Bund with Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.
The controversy centres on Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, publicly endorsing Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin on social media platform X. "I see that Tommy Robinson, I think, has just come out in support of Matt Goodwin, the Reform candidate," Starmer observed. "That tells you everything about the politics they intend to inject into this by-election, the politics of poisonous division, so we can see exactly where that's going."
Labour Positions Itself as Sole Alternative to Reform
Sir Keir positioned Labour as the only credible alternative to Reform UK in the constituency, stating emphatically: "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. But only Labour can beat Reform, and therefore it's the only way to win this by-election."
When pressed about whether he would personally join campaign efforts on the ground in Greater Manchester, the Prime Minister remained non-committal. "Well, we'll set our campaign plan when we've got the candidates in place later on this morning, but I will be campaigning across the country, as I always do," he responded.
Candidates Emerge as Campaigning Intensifies
Labour has selected Angeliki Stogia, a Manchester City Councillor for Whalley Range since 2012, as their candidate for the crucial by-election. At a launch event with party activists on Saturday, Ms Stogia described herself as a "proud Mancunian woman" and positioned her campaign against division. "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," she told supporters.
Reform UK had earlier announced Matt Goodwin, a GB News presenter and former academic, as their candidate for the seat. The party moved quickly to distance itself from Robinson's endorsement, with a spokesman stating Reform has been "consistently clear" about their view on the far-right activist and that "he isn't welcome in the party."
Political Landscape and Historical Context
The by-election follows Labour's decisive victory in the constituency during the 2024 general election, when the party secured more than half the vote with 18,555 ballots. Reform UK, then led by Nigel Farage, came second with 5,142 votes, narrowly beating the Green Party who received 4,810 votes.
Recent opinion polling has suggested Labour's support could face challenges in the seat, with both Reform UK and the Greens potentially gaining ground. However, analysts have cautioned that the survey's small sample size means it carries a larger-than-usual margin of error, making predictions uncertain.
The Green Party has entered the fray with their own candidate, unveiling councillor Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, as their representative on Friday. Green Party leader Zack Polanski framed the contest as having "just days to stop Reform" as campaigning enters its final phase.
Internal Labour Tensions Surface Amid By-Election Campaign
Beyond the immediate by-election contest, signs of ongoing divisions within the Labour Party have emerged following the blocked candidacy of Andy Burnham for the seat. Steve Rotheram, the Labour Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, publicly criticised what he described as a culture of anonymous briefings from within Government.
In a social media post, Mr Rotheram wrote that those responsible for whispering campaigns against Mr Burnham were "gutless" and added: "These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents. For the sake of our party, please just stop." Mr Burnham himself has complained about individuals feeling they can "say what they like to the media" following the rejection of his bid for the constituency.
The Gorton and Denton by-election has thus become a multifaceted political battleground, testing not only party support in a traditional Labour stronghold but also exposing tensions within the governing party as it faces its first significant electoral test since taking office.
