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 crucial by-election received an endorsement from far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The political storm erupted as campaigning intensified for the Gorton and Denton constituency in Greater Manchester, with Labour fighting to retain the seat it won decisively in the 2024 general election.
By-Election Becomes Battleground Over Values
Speaking during the final leg of his diplomatic trip to East Asia, Sir Keir directly addressed the controversial endorsement that has thrown the by-election into sharp relief. "I see that Tommy Robinson, I think, has just come out in support of Matt Goodwin, the Reform candidate," the Prime Minister stated. "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."
The Prime Minister framed the contest as a fundamental choice between competing visions for Britain, declaring: "It is very much and very clearly now a by-election between Labour and Reform on key principles." He positioned Labour as the champion of "renewal, for inclusive communities and bringing people together, and for true patriotism against the plastic patriotism of Reform."
Controversial Endorsement Sparks Political Firestorm
The controversy centres on Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posting "vote for Matt" on social media platform X on Friday. This endorsement was directed at GB News presenter and former academic Matt Goodwin, who Reform UK announced as their candidate earlier in the week.
In response to the growing controversy, a Reform UK spokesman stated that the party has been "consistently clear" about its view on Robinson and that "he isn't welcome in the party." However, the endorsement has nevertheless created significant political difficulties for Reform as they seek to present themselves as a credible alternative to the established parties.
Labour Selects Local Candidate Amid Polling Uncertainty
Labour announced on Saturday that their candidate would be Angeliki Stogia, a Manchester city councillor for Whalley Range first elected in 2012. At a launch event in the constituency, Ms Stogia presented herself as a "proud Mancunian woman" and emphasised local connections, stating: "This is about Manchester. Manchester is a city united, we are rejecting division."
The selection comes amid polling uncertainty, with an early survey suggesting Labour's support could weaken significantly in the seat. However, the poll of just 143 people by Find Out Now had such a small sample size that pollsters apologised for "confusion or misinterpretation" that resulted from their findings, which placed Reform in first place with 36% of the vote, Labour second with 33%, and the Greens third with 21%.
Internal Labour Divisions Surface Publicly
The by-election campaign has also exposed ongoing tensions within the Labour Party, particularly following the blocking of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing as a candidate. Steve Rotheram, the Labour mayor of the Liverpool City Region, publicly criticised what he called a culture of anonymous briefings from within Government, describing those responsible for whispering campaigns against Mr Burnham as "gutless."
Mr Rotheram added on social media: "These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents. For the sake of our party, please just stop." Mr Burnham himself has complained that "people just think they can say what they like to the media" following the rejection of his bid for the seat.
Campaign Dynamics and Historical Context
Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat in the 2024 general election with more than half the vote – 18,555 – while Nigel Farage's Reform UK came second with 5,142 votes, narrowly beating the Greens who received 4,810. The historical context makes this by-election particularly significant as a test of Labour's current standing and Reform's ability to build on their previous performance.
When asked whether he would personally join campaigning efforts in the constituency, Sir Keir remained non-committal, stating: "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."
Green Party Enters Fray With Alternative Message
Adding to the competitive landscape, Green Party leader Zack Polanski declared there were "just days to stop Reform" as he unveiled councillor Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, as their candidate on Friday. The Greens hope to capitalise on voter dissatisfaction with both major parties and position themselves as a progressive alternative.
Despite the Prime Minister's refusal to characterise the by-election as a referendum on his premiership, the contest has undoubtedly taken on national significance, with implications for party dynamics, political messaging, and the ongoing realignment of British politics in the post-Brexit era.
