The UK's Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by-election, a vote in which the Gaza war became the hotbed issue and the campaign descended into accusations of sectarianism.
Hannah Spencer, the Green candidate, won with 14,980 votes, beating Reform UK's Matt Goodwin (10,578 votes) and Labour's Angeliki Stogia (9,364). It is the party's first Westminster by-election win and deals a serious blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ruling Labour party.
Muslims make up more than a quarter of the 80,000 voters in Gorton and Denton, and the poll was widely viewed as a referendum on the direction of travel in British politics.
Concerns have been raised about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way in the contest.
In her victory speech, Ms Spencer told her new constituents that "our struggles might not be the same, but we stick up for each other". She pledged to "work hard" for those who did not vote for her and criticised "politicians and divisive figures" who "scapegoat" others.
Turnout was 47.62 per cent – slightly lower than at the 2024 general election, when it was 47.8 per cent. The vote was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne on health grounds. Before this by-election, it had been considered a safe Labour seat.
Three-way fight
Victory for the Greens is a major coup for the party, which campaigned on a platform of "Stop Islamophobia" and "Stop Reform". Nigel Farage's populists had at one stage looked likely to capitalise on Labour's poor polling performance across the country.
Opinion polls prior to voting reinforced the fracturing of British politics, with the centre imploding and voters moving to the far left or right. It was thought tactical voting by those anxious to keep Reform out of power would substantially influence the result – and that appears to have been the case.
Ms Spencer, a 34-year-old councillor and plumber, hinged her campaign on an appeal to the constituency's large Pakistani community, distributing leaflets in Urdu showing her in front of a mosque wearing a keffiyeh and urging voters to “make Labour pay”. The leaflet also featured newspaper headlines showing the proposal by Reform to ban visas for Pakistani migrants.
Another campaign video accused Reform’s candidate, GB News presenter Matt Goodwin, of being someone who would “fuel the flames of Islamophobia” if he became the area's MP.
Ms Spencer, who becomes the Green Party’s fifth MP, also 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.”
Celebrating the swing of 27.5 per cent from Labour to Greens, Zach Polanski, who has drummed up a swell of support since being elected party leader in September, said: “If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs.”
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”.
Reform leader Mr Farage claimed “cheating” had led to his candidate’s defeat.
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 7. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.”
Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653.
Labour blow
Labour’s defeat in the previously rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency will pile pressure on Mr Starmer.
The outcome will likely renew speculation about his position, which has come under pressure from the scandal over the arrest of his former US ambassador and Labour veteran Peter Mandelson in the Epstein investigation, a slew of departures from No 10 and Labour’s plummeting popularity.
Mr Starmer’s decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, from running will also come under the spotlight.
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.
She insisted “there is no leadership contest” and that Mr Starmer “is resolute in his job as leader of the Labour Party, as our Prime Minister”.
