Green Party Leader's Jubilant Reaction to Burnham's By-Election Exclusion
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has openly admitted that he "punched the air" with delight upon learning that Andy Burnham was prevented from standing as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election. This emotional response came as the Greens secured a stunning victory in the Greater Manchester constituency, overturning a substantial Labour majority and sparking significant internal criticism within the opposition party.
A Surprise Victory in Greater Manchester
The by-election results delivered a major political upset, with Green candidate Hannah Spencer clinching the seat. She managed to overturn a 13,413-vote majority that Labour had held since the 2024 general election. Notably, Reform UK also outperformed Labour, with their candidate Matt Goodwin receiving 10,578 votes compared to Labour's Angeliki Stogia, who garnered 9,364 votes. This outcome has intensified scrutiny of Labour leader Keir Starmer's decision-making and the party's strategic direction.
Labour's Controversial Decision and Internal Backlash
Labour's national executive committee (NEC) barred Andy Burnham from contesting the by-election, citing the financial costs associated with running a subsequent election to replace him as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Despite Burnham actively campaigning for Labour's candidate, door-knocking in support of Angeliki Stogia, the move has been widely condemned within party ranks.
Labour MP Karl Turner described the result as "catastrophic" and labelled the NEC's decision a grave mistake. The Mainstream Labour group, which enjoys Burnham's backing, echoed this sentiment, calling it a "catastrophic error" and asserting that Burnham was the sole candidate capable of securing victory for Labour in the constituency.
Polanski's Candid Remarks and Political Analysis
At a press conference in Manchester, Zack Polanski elaborated on his initial reaction, stating, "I'll be completely honest, when Andy Burnham wasn’t selected, I punched the air and I thought it's very probable we can win this. I wasn't complacent, but I knew we could do it." However, he also offered a broader critique of Labour, suggesting that public frustration extends beyond individual candidates.
Polanski argued, "Having seen the anger out on the streets about the Labour Party, Andy Burnham is still a Labour politician. And I would say, no matter how popular you are, no matter even if you have some of the right positions, I think people in this country are looking at Labour MPs or high-profile Labour politicians and saying: 'Where are your red lines?" He highlighted issues such as the cost of living crisis and international conflicts, accusing Labour of failing to deliver on its promise of change.
New Green MP's Perspective on a Hypothetical Burnham Candidacy
Newly elected Green MP Hannah Spencer expressed confidence that her party could have triumphed even if Andy Burnham had been on the ballot. In response to inquiries, she remarked, "If he had stood I think we would have had a harder fight, but I think we possibly still would have won it." Spencer attributed this to widespread voter disillusionment with Labour, noting that Burnham's association with the party might have ultimately hindered rather than helped his campaign.
She further explained, "We've heard from so many people that they are so angry at Labour and have been for a very long time, that him standing as a Labour politician would not have helped in his campaign to be elected here and would have really gone against him." Spencer concluded that selecting Burnham would not have been the "saving grace" some within Labour had anticipated, underscoring the depth of public discontent that propelled the Greens to victory.
