The Green Party of England and Wales secured a stunning victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election on Thursday, unseating Labour in a constituency the party has held for nearly a century. The result, announced early Friday, represents a significant blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and underscores a fracturing of traditional British politics.
Hannah Spencer, 34, a former plumber, won the seat with 14,980 votes, defeating Reform UK’s Matthew Goodwin, who received 10,578 votes, and Labour’s Angeliki Stogia, who trailed with 9,364 votes. The win gives the Green Party its fifth seat in the House of Commons. Spencer’s victory speech acknowledged the weight of the result, stating, “Bear with me, due to the fact that this is a lot.” She emphasized her commitment to representing those “who feel left behind and isolated,” promising to fight for them.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Andrew Gwynne. Starmer had personally campaigned in the constituency, a rare move for a leader facing an uphill battle in a local contest, and blocked a run by popular Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, believing a win was crucial to stabilizing his leadership. The loss, is particularly damaging.
The result comes at a precarious moment for Starmer, whose premiership has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Some within his own party have publicly questioned his leadership in light of the revelations. According to some polls, Starmer is the least popular prime minister since records began.
Political analysts suggest the Green Party successfully tapped into widespread discontent over the cost of living and stagnant wages, offering an alternative to both Labour’s perceived centrism and Reform UK’s anti-immigration rhetoric. “The message of giving people a better future economically can resonate; it can cut through the white noise that define so much of our politics,” said Scott Lucas, a politics professor at University College Dublin.
The Gorton and Denton constituency has a diverse demographic, including a significant number of working-class voters, students, and Muslim residents. Disillusionment with the government’s response to the conflict in Gaza is believed to have played a role in eroding support for Labour among some segments of the electorate.
Matthew Goodwin, of Reform UK, responded to his party’s second-place finish with a statement warning of “a dangerous Muslim sectarianism” and claiming that “We are losing our country.” Spencer swiftly condemned this rhetoric, stating, “I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. My Muslim friends and neighbors are just like me: human.”
Despite the Green Party’s success, Reform UK remains a significant national force, consistently leading in opinion polls for the past ten months, with an average polling of 28%. However, this level of support is currently insufficient to form a government outright, suggesting the possibility of a future coalition.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski hailed the victory as a turning point, stating, “People everywhere will now realize that voting Green is the way to defeat Reform.” He is increasingly viewed as a potential rival to Nigel Farage in terms of popular appeal, according to political commentators.
Starmer, acknowledging the “disappointing” result, insisted he would continue to lead the party. When questioned about potential resignation, he stated, “I came into politics late in life to fight for change for those people who need it,” and pledged to “keep on fighting for those people for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
