By Peter Omopo
The Green Party has secured a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with candidate Hannah Spencer defeating rivals to take the seat in what party leaders described as a “seismic” result.
Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, said voters had “rejected hate and embraced hope” after Labour, which had held the constituency since 1931, fell to third place behind Reform UK. She pledged to tackle local fly-tipping, introduce rent controls and focus on cost-of-living concerns affecting residents.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the outcome as “very disappointing” but acknowledged that voters were impatient for change. In a letter to Labour MPs, he criticised the Greens, accusing them of divisive politics and arguing that only Labour could unite the country. He also questioned the party’s capacity to replicate the victory nationwide.
Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski said the result showed that voters were ready for an alternative to Labour, while former party leader Caroline Lucas attributed the win to widespread disappointment with the Labour government. Lucas said many voters felt let down on issues including welfare, the two-child benefit cap and international aid cuts.
Political editor Chris Mason described the result as a nightmare for Labour, noting that the Greens had successfully positioned themselves as the main alternative to Reform UK in the constituency. Polling expert Professor John Curtice said the outcome reflected changing voter behaviour and growing volatility in the electorate.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for an investigation into alleged “family voting” at polling stations, after claims by election observer group Democracy Volunteers that the practice had been observed in a significant number of polling stations. Manchester City Council disputed the allegations, stating that no such issues had been reported during voting. Greater Manchester Police confirmed a report had been received and was under review.
Voters cited a range of reasons for Labour’s poor performance, including anger over derogatory messages previously sent by former MP Andrew Gwynne, who resigned last month, and dissatisfaction with the party’s local campaigning. Some residents said they were drawn to the Greens’ stance on housing and living costs, while others backed Reform UK over immigration concerns.
The by-election result is expected to intensify pressure on Starmer ahead of upcoming local elections, with some Labour MPs privately expressing concern about the party’s direction. Meanwhile, the Greens say the victory signals that insurgent parties are gaining ground in British politics and could reshape the electoral landscape in the months ahead.
