The result is a warning for the leader of the Labour government, who is facing the rise of the anti-immigration party Reform UK on the right. It also reflects the weakening of the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives in British politics, with Labour only coming in third place behind Reform.
Keir Starmer acknowledged on Friday that the result in the Gorton and Denton constituency, south of Manchester, was “very disappointing” and he understood that voters were “frustrated” and “impatient” for change. He criticized “extremes in politics, both left and right.” Starmer added, “It is very easy for other parties to identify grievances. The hardest part is finding solutions and turning the country around to improve the lives of millions of people, and that’s what I am focused on.”
The Green Party candidate, 34-year-old Hannah Spencer, came in first with 41% of the votes, ahead of Reform (29%) and Labour (25%). This is the second by-election Labour has lost since returning to power in July 2024. The previous one, in May 2025, was won by Nigel Farage’s Reform party.
Serious Situation
This defeat is another sign of the difficulties facing Keir Starmer’s government, which is struggling in the polls to meet British expectations on the cost of living, the economy, and the improvement of public services.
As the local elections in May approach, seen by many as crucial for his future in Downing Street, this is another warning for the Prime Minister, who was personally involved in the campaign.
The defeat further fuels criticism from within Labour, with some believing the party has veered too much towards Reform’s territory, especially by toughening its immigration policy. It should “make us aware of the seriousness of the situation,” reacted Labour’s former deputy leader Angela Rayner.
The Mainstream group within Labour criticized the party’s leadership for the “catastrophic mistake” of blocking the candidacy of popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham for this election, seen as a rival to Keir Starmer. “The Greens won because Labour under Starmer has abandoned its progressive values, imitating the far-right instead of fighting against it,” said Andrea Egan, head of the powerful Unison union.
According to Louise Thompson, a professor of political science at the University of Manchester, Keir Starmer’s challenges are increasing with the need to “now wage a more assertive war on two fronts,” against the Greens and Nigel Farage’s party.
Even though the election result is likely more a “vote against Reform” than an endorsement of the Greens’ program, she added.
“Alternative”
This victory certainly boosts the Greens, who have been on the rise since Zack Polanski took over in September 2025, sometimes compared to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“It’s a resounding victory,” he said at a press conference. “Labour’s electoral stronghold is over. People now recognize that there is an alternative,” he further stated.
In recent months, he has downplayed the party’s environmental identity and focused on its very left-wing program, advocating for a raise in taxes for the wealthy.
His openly pro-Palestinian stance may have also appealed to a constituency where over a quarter of the population is Muslim.
Reform UK, seen as a national favorite, also hoped to spring a surprise.
Nigel Farage lamented a vote that confirms “the victory of sectarianism.”
His candidate Matt Goodwin, a former academic turned presenter on the very conservative GB News channel, more directly criticized “dangerous Muslim sectarianism.”
