Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election in blow to Starmer
The Green Party has won its first ever parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton, dealing a bitter blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
Labour’s defeat, trailing in third behind Zack Polanski’s Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the previously rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency, will pile pressure on the Prime Minister.
Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumber, emerged victorious for the Greens, with 14,980 votes and a majority of 4,402 votes.
Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin got 10,578 votes, with Labour’s Angeliki Stogia trailing on 9,364, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election, when the turnout was similarly high.
Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653.
In her victory speech, Ms Spencer praised her party’s “hopeful campaign” and said “we have shown that we don’t have to accept being turned against each other”.
She apologised to customers who had made appointments for plumbing jobs, joking: “I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I’m heading to Parliament.”
Reform’s Mr Goodwin said: “I think the progressives were told how to vote, and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency. And many people in this country will look at Gorton and Denton and be appalled by what they see.”
He also said Reform had “embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats”.
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley lamented the “clearly disappointing” result, saying: “By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different.”
She added that “the politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform” would not tackle the cost-of-living crisis, create opportunities for young people or invest in public services.
The Greens’ victory will undermine Labour’s claim to be the only option for anti-Reform voters in the May local elections, deepening the electoral challenge for the governing party.
Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell earlier admitted the Greens had won the “argument that they were best placed” to keep Reform out of Gorton and Denton.
Sir Keir’s decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, from running will also likely face renewed scrutiny.
The contest was triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne standing down for health reasons.
Reform leader Mr Farage claimed “cheating” had led to his candidate’s defeat.
Concerns have been raised about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way in the contest.
Election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed “concerningly high levels” of family voting – an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting.
Mr Farage posted on X: “This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us.
“Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.”
A spokesman for the Conservative Party, which came a distant fourth, said: “Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party.
“In losing one of Labour’s safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub