Gorton and Denton by-election results in full as Keir Starmer dealt humiliating blow

The Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by-election in a major blow for Sir Keir Starmer. Labour came third in the Greater Manchester seat, a former stronghold, behind Zack Polanski’s left-wing party and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Hannah Spencer became the Green Party’s fifth MP with 14,980 votes.

Reform candidate Matt Goodwin took 10,578 votes, with Labour’s Angeliki Stogia trailing in third on 9,364.

Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653.

Polling had suggested the ballot was a three-horse race between Labour, Reform and the Greens.

The Prime Minister’s party had won the constituency with more than half of the vote in 2024.

But Sir Keir and Labour’s ratings have plummeted in the almost two years since then.

In her victory speech, Ms Spencer took aim at her election rivals.

She said: “I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.”

But Reform leader Nigel Farage warned the by-election was a “victory for sectarian voting and cheating” amid concerns about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way in the contest.

He added: “Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.”

Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin posted on X: “We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged.

“We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get. I will continue the fight. I will always fight for you. I will stand at the next general election. Matt.”

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley admitted the result was “clearly disappointing”, adding: “By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different.”

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labour’s 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.”

The Greens’ victory at Gorton and Denton represents the sixth largest Labour majority to be overturned at a by-election since the Second World War.

Among the five larger majorities is the one at Runcorn and Helsby that Reform overturned at a by-election in 2024.

The largest Labour majority to be overturned at a by-election since 1945 is 22,915, which was achieved by the Conservatives at Ashfield in Nottinghamshire in 1977.