Green Party Makes Historic Breakthrough in Northern England

By-election victory in Gorton and Denton marks first Green seat north of the border, as Labour suffers devastating losses in 2026 local elections

Gorton and Denton By-Election

A Seismic Shift

"Labour’s electoral stranglehold is over."
— Zack Polanski, Green Party leader

The Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester, securing its first-ever parliamentary seat in northern England. The victory overturned a long-standing Labour majority and sent shockwaves through the political establishment.

The Results

In a closely fought contest, Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer received 14,980 votes (40.7%), defeating Reform UK's Matthew Goodwin (10,578 votes, 28.7%) and Labour's Angeliki Stogia (9,364 votes, 25.4%). Voter turnout stood at 47.62%.

This represents a dramatic swing from the 2024 general election, where Labour won the seat with 50.8% of the vote and the Greens secured only 13.2%.

The Candidates

Hannah Spencer (Green Party) — a 34-year-old plumber and local councillor—campaigned on cost-of-living issues, including wages, basic services, and NHS investment. In her victory speech, she declared that many constituents feel "let down and looked down on." She pledged to represent all residents, including Muslim communities and white working-class communities, and condemned an attempted attack on a mosque during Ramadan.

Matthew Goodwin (Reform UK) warned of what he called "a dangerous sectarianism in British politics." His party leader, Nigel Farage, blamed the defeat on "sectarian voting" and "cheating in elections" —though he provided no evidence. An independent observer group, Democracy Volunteers, reported "extremely high" levels of family voting during the election.

Angeliki Stogia (Labour) faced questions over the party's decision to prevent Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, from standing.

Political Implications

The victory brings the Green Party's total MPs to five and marks its first by-election win. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the result "very disappointing," attributing it to typical mid-term voter dissatisfaction and acknowledging voters' "impatience for change."

2026 Local Elections

A Bloodbath for Labour

Local elections held on May 7, 2026, for approximately 5,000 council seats across England, as well as elections for the Welsh Senedd and Scottish Parliament, delivered a devastating blow to the governing Labour Party.

Key Results at a Glance

Devastating Numbers

• In Wales, Labour's vote share collapsed to 11% , retaining only 9 Senedd seats and losing its majority after 27 years.
• Reform UK became the main opposition in the Welsh Senedd with 32 seats.
• The Green Party took control of several London Labour strongholds, including Hackney and Lambeth.

Reactions

"The old establishment's two-party system is ending."
— Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader

Prime Minister Starmer described the results as "very tough" and said he takes responsibility but will not resign. He called his government "a 10-year project of renewal" and confirmed he plans to lead Labour into the next general election. Some Labour MPs have called for him to set a timetable for his departure.

What Analysts Say

Political analysts note that vote fragmentation across multiple parties suggests the next general election—not required until 2029—could produce no overall majority, potentially leading to a coalition government.

Labour's poor performance is attributed to:

• Public dissatisfaction with the government's direction and leadership
• A sluggish economy
• A persistent cost-of-living crisis
• Strained public services and internal party disputes

Background

The 2026 local elections were widely viewed as a key test of public support for the Labour government, which won a landslide general election in July 2024. Prior to the election, Prime Minister Starmer's approval rating stood at -48.