Starmer vows to fight on after Green by-election win in Manchester
Labour suffers a historic by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton as Greens claim their first northern by-election win, heightening pressure on Starmer ahead of May elections.
Manchester once again found itself at the centre of UK politics as a by-election in Gorton and Denton produced a historic result. The Greens won for the first time in the north, with Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, becoming the party’s first MP in the region. Labour, which had held the seat for nearly a century, finished in third place behind Reform UK. Turnout was around 47.6 percent, signalling a serious contest rather than a protest vote. The seat lies in a working-class suburb of Manchester with a large student presence and a sizeable Muslim community.
The result piles pressure on Keir Starmer and the Labour leadership as May elections loom in Scotland, Wales and several English councils. Starmer pledged to keep fighting and to press on with turning Labour's fortunes around. Yet the defeat drew stern criticisms from some Labour MPs and raised questions about leadership and strategy. Angela Rayner described the outcome as a wake-up call, while reports circulated that Andy Burnham could have been a leadership contender had he been allowed to stand; Burnham, however, has not commented.
Analysts say the by-election is a strategic test for Labour and a signal that the Greens can win in traditional Labour heartlands with a disciplined, targeted campaign. The loss underscores voter concern over policy U-turns and leadership style, and it forces a rethink of Labour's approach as the party eyes local and national ballots. For the Greens, the milestone matters, but party strategists will be watching whether this can be converted into sustained representation beyond a single seat.
In Manchester, the result reflects a shifting mood in UK politics as voters weigh cost-of-living pressures public services and leadership confidence. The Greens' rise in the north adds to a broader narrative about reform and renewal in British politics as parties recalibrate before the next rounds of elections.
