Green Party sweeps by-election, dents Labour’s momentum

A significant shift has occurred in the UK’s political landscape as the Green Party secured a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election—a setback for Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. Despite winning the seat with 51 percent of the vote in July 2024, Labour fell to third place, indicating a weakening of their traditional two-party system dominance.

The Green’s Hannah Spencer now represents northern England as the new MP, defeating Labour by just under 13,000 votes. Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin took second position with 10,578 votes. Stagnant support for Labour saw its vote plummet to nearly a quarter of what it was in 2024.

This result marks the first time since the turn of the century that Manchester’s Gorton area will not be represented by a Labour MP. The Green Party’s victory signifies their emergence as a serious political force, shattering expectations and pointing towards growing voter dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer and his policies.

Spencer echoed these sentiments in her victory speech, stating, “Instead of working for a decent life, we’re serving the interests of billionaires instead. We’re being drained dry by this system.” She underscored community solidarity over blaming others, emphasizing that hard work should translate to better lives for all.

The by-election was sparked when Labour leadership attempted to block Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from contesting the seat. Now, Starmer faces a new challenge in May 2026 with elections looming in Wales, Scotland, and London. The Green Party’s win highlights an increasing disenchantment with Keir Starmer and his party, as voters increasingly turn towards alternatives such as Reform UK and the Green Party for solutions.

As the political climate continues to evolve, Labour must navigate this new reality, grappling with internal frictions and policy reversals while attempting to reclaim lost ground.