Labour leader faces leadership jeopardy after crushing Gorton and Denton by-election defeat
The Green Party has secured its first-ever parliamentary by-election victory, overturning nearly a century of Labour dominance in Gorton and Denton in a result that has triggered a profound political crisis for Sir Keir Starmer.
Green candidate Hannah Spencer, a plumber and Trafford councillor, won the Greater Manchester seat with 14,980 votes—a majority of 4,402 over second-placed Reform UK. The result marks a historic shift for a constituency that had been a Labour stronghold and makes Spencer the Green Party’s fifth MP.
The real shock of the night, however, was the humiliating third-place finish for the governing Labour Party. Its candidate, Angeliki Stogia, garnered just 9,364 votes, a catastrophic drop from the 18,555 votes Labour received in the 2024 general election. The Conservative candidate, Charlotte Cadden, came a distant fourth with only 706 votes, resulting in the party losing its deposit—reportedly the first time the Tories have suffered this fate in an English by-election since 1983.
Leadership in the crosshairs
The defeat has ignited immediate and intense pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with calls for him to resign or drastically shift his party’s direction. Asked directly if he had considered standing down, Sir Keir vowed to continue, stating: “I came into politics late in life to fight for change for those people who need it. I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
Criticism erupted from within his own ranks. Former deputy leader Angela Rayner called the result a “wake-up call”, urging the party to “really listen” and be “braver”. “Voters want the change that we promised – and they voted for,” she said. Labour MPs, unions, and campaign groups have reportedly demanded a change of course ahead of crucial local elections in May, with warnings that Sir Keir’s position is precarious unless the party’s fortunes improve.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was scathing, declaring the result showed “Keir Starmer’s premiership is finished”. “He is in office but not in power. If he had any integrity he would go,” she said, blaming the outcome on “grievance politics”.
A victory of ‘hope’ and a crisis for the establishment
Celebrating the win, Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski framed it as “an existential crisis for the Labour Party”. “No longer can they try and scare people into saying they have to vote for something because they’re worried about the least-worst option,” he said. “A vote for the Greens is a vote both to stop Reform, to stop Labour and for something hopeful and a plan.”
In her victory speech, Hannah Spencer struck a conciliatory tone, saying: “We have shown that we don’t have to accept being turned against each other. We can demand better without hating each other. We can do that together.” Her campaign emphasized the cost of living, wealth distribution, and community solidarity.
For Reform UK, which secured 10,578 votes, the second-place finish was seen internally as a setback. Analysts suggested its anti-immigration message suppressed support among minority ethnic voters. The party’s candidate, GB News presenter and academic Matt Goodwin, had faced scrutiny during the campaign over election leaflets that breached rules due to a missing “statutory imprint”, though a High Court judge decided not to sanction him.
The Gorton and Denton by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who stood down due to health reasons after being suspended from the party for sending offensive WhatsApp messages. The contest was further shaped by a controversial internal Labour decision to block the popular Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, from standing as the party’s candidate—a move that has drawn significant criticism.
Allegations and acrimony
The political fallout has been accompanied by serious allegations about the conduct of the vote itself. Reform UK, supported by the Conservatives, has reported alleged incidents of illegal “family voting” to the police—a practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other’s votes.
The election observer group Democracy Volunteers said it witnessed “concerningly high levels” of the practice. Reform UK honorary president Nigel Farage claimed there was “sectarian voting and cheating” and said the party had reported “many cases” to the authorities. “What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas,” he said.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was reviewing a report. The Electoral Commission stated it was working with police to review the information. The Green Party dismissed the claims as “an attempt to undermine the democratic result and is straight out of the Trump playbook.”
The war in Gaza also emerged as a significant and divisive campaign issue. The Green Party actively campaigned on a platform that resonated with some Muslim voters, while some Labour figures accused the Greens of “whipping up hatred”. Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin made controversial remarks about a “coalition of Islamists and woke progressives”.
The result leaves Sir Keir Starmer facing a monumental challenge to reunite a fractured party and reconnect with a disaffected electorate, all while fending off opponents who now scent a prime minister vulnerable to a historic political realignment.
