Labour Faces Electoral Catastrophe as Greens Seize Gorton and Denton
In a stunning political upset, the Labour Party has suffered a devastating defeat in one of its safest seats, with the Green Party emerging victorious in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The result, confirmed in the early hours of Friday morning, has sent shockwaves through Westminster and triggered a crisis of confidence within Labour ranks.
Collapse of Labour's Vote Share
The scale of Labour's defeat cannot be overstated. The party's vote share plummeted by a staggering 25%, with Labour finishing in third place behind both the Greens and Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK. This represents one of the most significant by-election losses in Labour's recent history.
Local plumber Hannah Spencer made history by becoming the first Green candidate ever to win a by-election, securing what her party described as a "seismic" victory. Remarkably, Gorton and Denton was only 127th on the Green Party's target list, making their triumph even more unexpected.
Starmer's Defiant Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempted to strike a defiant tone despite the crushing defeat. Speaking to reporters, he vowed to "keep on fighting for as long as I've got breath in my body." In a letter to all Labour MPs, Starmer acknowledged the pain of the result but framed it as typical for governing parties facing by-elections.
"It hurts," Starmer wrote. "But this is the kind of result that we have often seen parties of government face. In by-elections people can make their voice heard without risking a change of government. I get it: people are rightly impatient to see the change they voted for."
Internal Party Backlash
The defeat has sparked significant internal criticism, with many Labour MPs pointing to the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing as a key factor in the loss. Labour MP Karl Turner was particularly vocal, stating unequivocally on the Today programme: "I can bet you now without any problem whatsoever Andy Burnham would have won that by-election yesterday without a shadow of a doubt."
One Labour MP from the 2024 intake told The Mirror: "He [the PM] blocked Andy and now he has to own it." Another echoed this sentiment, claiming the so-called "King of the North" would have secured victory in the contest.
Government Response and Future Challenges
A No10 source attempted to downplay the significance of the defeat, emphasizing the government's commitment to its progressive manifesto. "We have a progressive manifesto which is popular with the public and we need to get on with the delivery," the source said. "It's not about copying the Greens platform."
The source added: "We have the Greens on one extreme and Reform on the other. We have a real opportunity to deliver for mainstream Britain."
Looking Ahead to May Elections
Labour MPs are now bracing for what could be an even more significant electoral test in May, when millions of voters head to the polls for local council elections across England, alongside the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections. With over 6,000 council seats at stake, this will represent Starmer's biggest electoral challenge since the 2024 general election.
One Labour MP summarized the mood within the party: "It was clear after the failed coup [against the PM] the other week that whilst people aren't happy with us they don't want pissing around. We need to get on with the job and then see how the land lies in the medium term."
The Gorton and Denton result has exposed deep vulnerabilities within Labour's electoral strategy and raised serious questions about Starmer's leadership as the party faces its most difficult period since taking office.
