The Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by-election from Labour
Their candidate Hannah Spencer won 40 per cent of the vote with a majority of nearly four thousand over second placed Reform while Labour came third dealing Keir Starmer’s party a devastating blow in one of its “safe” seats.
The turnout was 47.62% with 36,903 votes cast, a higher turnout than in the 2024 general election
In her victory address Hannah Spencer said she didn’t grow up ‘wanting to be a politician’ and had qualified as a plasterer just two weeks ago.
Praising the work ethic of her constituents, she said that working hard ‘used to get you something’ but added: ‘Life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life… we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires… I think everybody should get a nice life. Clearly I’m not the only person who thinks that.’
The defeated Reform Candidate Matt Goodwin said: “We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged. We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get. I will continue the fight. I will always fight for you. I will stand at the next general election”
While the Labour candidate said
“This result is clearly disappointing. By-elections are normally difficult for the party of Government, and this election was no different. We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform. We will continue to deliver a programme for government that tackles the cost of living crisis families are facing, creates opportunities for young people and invests in our public services. The politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform won’t deliver this. We will move forwards with a relentless focus on delivering the renewal communities across Britain want to see”
