![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Hannah-Spencer.png\")
The Green Party marked a historic victory last night after Hannah Spencer won the Labour seat of Gorton and Denton, delivering a further blow to Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n
Ms Spencer won with 14,980 votes (41% of those cast), beating Reform UK\u2019s Matt Goodwin who received 10,578 and Labour\u2019s Angeliki Stogia with 9,364.<\/p>\n
The result makes Ms Spencer the first Green Party candidate to win a Westminster by-election, as well as becoming the party\u2019s first MP in northern England.<\/p>\n
It is also a setback for Scottish Labour which holds its spring conference in Paisley today and faces the prospect of a similar rejection by an electorate in the Scottish elections in May.<\/p>\n
The constituency in Greater Manchester had long been considered a safe Labour seat, with the vote triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne in January due to ill health.<\/p>\n
He was elected as a Labour MP in 2005 in the previous Denton and Reddish constituency with a 13,000 majority, but was suspended from the party last year after sending offensive WhatsApp messages.<\/p>\n
Election expert Sir John Curtice said the result was going to make life for Keir Starmer\u00a0\u201ceven worse\u201d. The Labour leader will now face further criticism over his decision to block popular Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing.<\/p>\n
Ms Spencer said: \u201cI didn\u2019t grow up wanting to be a politician. I am a plumber,\u201d she said during her victory speech. \u201cI am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reform\u2019s Matt Goodwin said his party\u00a0had \u201cembarrassed Labour\u201d in is sixth safest seat. \u201cIf we can do this here, we can do this pretty much anywhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia declined to speak to the media as she left the count. Party chair Anna Turley called the result \u201cclearly disappointing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Green leader Zack Polanski said \u201calmost half\u201d of Labour\u2019s 2024 general election voters \u201cabandoned them\u201d, as \u201cmany switched to voting Green\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Green Party saw a record-breaking swing in our direction and more than tripled our vote,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottish Greens Co-leader Gillian Mackay said:\u00a0\u201cThis is a historic result that shows people are ready for something different from the politics they have had to endure for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cHannah has just shown Scotland that the best way to keep Reform out is by voting Green.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we approach the Holyrood election in May, people across Scotland will be looking for representatives who will stand up for fairness, tackle inequality and deliver the climate action that our communities deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Conservative party, which trailed in fourth with 706 votes, said Sir Keir Starmer has \u201ckilled the Labour Party\u201d, adding: \u201cIn losing one of Labour\u2019s safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reform UK\u2019s Matt Goodwin, who came second behind the Greens, says Reform UK has \u201cembarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSixth safest Labour seat. And I think if we can do this here, we can do this pretty much anywhere,\u201d he says after the party knocked Labour into third place.<\/p>\n
Result:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Green Party \u2013 14,980<\/li>\n
- Reform UK \u2013 10,578<\/li>\n
- Labour Party \u2013 9,364<\/li>\n
- Conservative Party \u2013 706<\/li>\n
- Liberal Democrats \u2013 653<\/li>\n
- Monster Raving Loony Party \u2013 159<\/li>\n
- Advance UK \u2013 154<\/li>\n
- Rejoin EU Party \u2013 98<\/li>\n
- Libertarian Party \u2013 47<\/li>\n
- Social Democratic Party \u2013 46<\/li>\n
- Communist League \u2013 29<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The total number of votes cast was 36,814, with a voter turnout of over 47%.<\/p>\n
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