Green party’s Hannah Spencer wins byelection
The Green party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection in a significant blow to Keir Starmer, Josh Halliday is reporting.
Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority.
Labour came third in the tightly contested race, while Reform UK finished second.
Updated at 23.36 EST
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Labour had 13th highest fall in support in byelection, says John Curtice, and Tories had worst ever byelection result
Prof Sir John Curtice, the BBC’s elections expert, says this is the first byelection in the modern era when neither Labour nor the Conservative party were in the top two (apart from one where Labour disowned their candidate). Here is an extract from his take for the BBC.
double quotation markRather than winning narrowly, the [Green party] won 40.7%, enough to put them as much as 12 points ahead of second placed Reform. It represented as much as a 27.5 point increase on the party’s share in 2024.
Labour, who had not hitherto lost an election in the area since 1931, fell into third place. The party’s 25.4% of the vote represented a near halving of their 50.8% of the vote in 2024 and the 13th biggest ever fall in the party’s support in a byelection.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives lost their deposit with just 1.9% of the vote, their worst ever byelection result.
Apart from the exceptional circumstances of the Rochdale by-election in 2024, when Labour disowned their candidate, leaving George Galloway to defeat a second-placed independent candidate, it is the first time that neither Labour nor the Conservatives have been one of the top two parties in a by-election contest.
Share Hannah Spencer celebrating with her supporters at the Niamey Radical Arts Centre in Manchester. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianShare
Updated at 01.37 EST
Losing Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin claims result evidence of ‘dangerous Muslim sectarianism’ in UK
Matt Goodwin, the Reform UK candidate who was defeated, has issued a statement claiming that the byelection result was evidence of “dangerous Muslim sectarianism”. He said:
double quotation markWe 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.
It is difficult to know what this means beyond the fact that there are a large number of Muslims in Gorton and Denton and that they chose not to vote for Reform UK.
Speaking at the count, Goodwin explicitly accused the Green party of engaging in sectarian politics. He said:
double quotation markWe’ve not engaged in sectarian politics like the Greens. We’ve communicated in English on national language. We’ve not communicated in Urdu or Punjabi. We’ve actually talked about the issues that are facing local people. We didn’t prioritise Gaza.
Hannah Spencer, the new Green party MP for Gorton and Denton, has said that it was Reform UK that was engaging in divisive politics. (See 4.50am.) Reform puts opposition to immigrants at the heart of its platform.
Matt Goodwin listening to Hannah Spencer deliver her victory speech. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianSharePolanski says many ex-Labour voters will never return to Starmer’s party, and Greens best party to defeat Reform
Zack Polanksi, the Green party leader, has claimed that the Gorton and Denton result shows that the Labour party has lost some of its old voters for good and that voting Green is now the way to defeat Reform. In a statement he said:
double quotation markThis used to be one of Labour’s safest seats. In this by-election almost half of their 2024 voters abandoned them and many switched to voting Green, meaning they finished 3rd. The Green party saw a record-breaking swing in our direction and more than tripled our vote.
Labour fought a shameful, dirty campaign – spreading lies about Green policies and even faking a tactical voting website. They knew they couldn’t win, but they risked splitting the vote and letting Reform in.
People everywhere will now know that voting Green is the way to defeat Reform. Many ex-Labour voters told our canvassers that they will never go back to a party that supports genocide, fuels racism, and has failed to deliver on its promise to improve life for people across the country.
Zack Polanski posing for a selfie with the new Green party MP for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianShareFull results in Gorton and Denton byelection
Andrew Sparrow
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Adam Fulton.
So, in the end, it wasn’t even close.
Here are the detailed results from the Press Association.
double quotation markHannah Spencer (Green) 14,980 (40.69%, +27.53%)
Matt Goodwin (Reform) 10,578 (28.73%, +14.67%)
Angeliki Stogia (Lab) 9,364 (25.44%, -25.32%)
Charlotte Cadden (C) 706 (1.92%, -5.98%)
Jackie Pearcey (LD) 653 (1.77%, -2.05%)
Sir Oink A-Lot (Loony) 159 (0.43%)
Nick Buckley (Advance UK) 154 (0.42%)
Joseph O’Meachair (Rejoin) 98 (0.27%)
Dan Clarke (Libertarian) 47 (0.13%)
Sebastian Moore (Soc Dem) 46 (0.12%)
Hugo Wils (Comm Lge) 29 (0.08%)
Green maj 4,402 (11.96%)
26.43% swing Lab to Green
Electorate 77,501; Turnout 36,814 (47.50%, +0.70%)
2024: Lab maj 13,413 (36.69%) – Turnout 36,560 (46.80%)
Gwynne (Lab) 18,555 (50.75%); Moffitt (Reform) 5,142 (14.06%);
Gardner (Green) 4,810 (13.16%); Burney (WPB) 3,766 (10.30%); Welsh
(C) 2,888 (7.90%); Reid (LD) 1,399 (3.83%)
ShareLabour says result ‘clearly disappointing’
Labour party chairperson Anna Turley has called the Gorton and Denton result “clearly disappointing”.
Byelections were normally difficult for the party of government and this election was no different, she said.
“We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform.
“We will continue to deliver a programme for government that tackles the cost of living crisis families are facing, creates opportunities for young people and invests in our public services,” Turley said, quoted by PA Media.
double quotation markThe politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform won’t deliver this.
We will move forwards with a relentless focus on delivering the renewal communities across Britain want to see.
Updated at 00.50 EST
Some images from the night as the Greens won the byelection, with Reform coming second and Labour pushed into third.
Green party leader Zack Polanski (L) and candidate Hannah Spencer (second L) arriving for the declaration after the vote count in Manchester. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPAReform UK candidate Matt Goodwin (L) and Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden (C) arrive for the declaration. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPAManchester city council CEO Tom Stannard (C) on stage with the byelection candidates at the Manchester Central convention complex in Manchester. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/ReutersThe Greens’ Hannah Spencer (R) and Zack Polanski after the result. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPAShare
Updated at 01.00 EST
More here from the Guardian’s North of England editor, Josh Halliday:
On voting day in the Gorton and Denton byelection Labour insiders had seemed more confident as polling showed they were virtually neck-and-neck with the Greens. They hoped voters might stick with Labour rather than back an insurgent party and risk a Reform win.
But the Greens’ energetic campaign – Hannah Spencer found near-instant local fame as “Hannah the plumber” while thousands of volunteers travelled from across the UK to support her – was enough to secure victory.
Labour sources said the party had not been forgiven by many of its Muslim voters for its stance on Gaza – an issue capitalised on by the Greens in the Manchester side of the constituency.
“Gaza has not been forgotten or forgiven,” said a Labour councillor in the constituency. “Lots of us are now worried for our seats”.
Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, said Starmer was “resolute in his job” when asked about the prime minister’s future.
double quotation markI know that Keir is the right person for that job … This is about politics as well – we’ve got to get our politics clearer so people know that we are on their side, we are standing up for them.
Updated at 01.13 EST
The Green party won 40.7% of the byelection vote while Reform finished second on 28.7% and Labour came third with 25.4%, according to agency reports.
Among those respective candidates, Hannah Spencer received 14,980 votes, Matthew Goodwin 10,578 and Angeliki Stogia 9,364.
Updated at 00.22 EST
Farage claims Green party win was ‘victory for sectarian voting and cheating’
Nigel Farage has responded to the byelection result, claiming on social media:
double quotation markThis election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating.
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.
Updated at 01.09 EST
The Greens’ victory in a Labour stronghold is its first ever in a Westminster byelection and establishes the party as a serious political force and a credible anti-Reform alternative.
It will deepen concerns among Labour MPs that Keir Starmer’s party is haemorrhaging voters on the left in an effort to thwart the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform, reports Josh Halliday.
The result will also prompt further scrutiny of the prime minister’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing as the Labour candidate in a city where he enjoys significant public support.
It is the first time in nearly 100 years that the Gorton area of Manchester has not been represented by a Labour MP.
See the full report here:
Here are some shots of Hannah Spencer after the historic byelection win for the Greens.
Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters Photograph: Peter Byrne/PASpencer at the podium giving her victory speech. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/ReutersShare
Updated at 00.04 EST
Hannah Al-Othman
Hannah Spencer, who had mentioned in the speech that she was a plumber, also said: “To many customers, I’m sorry, but I might have to cancel the work. Because I’m heading to parliament, and when I get there, I will make space for everyone doing jobs like mine.”
Updated at 23.58 EST
Hannah Spencer hits out at Reform UK with attack on ‘divisive’ figures who scapegoat Muslims
Hannah Al-Othman
Speaking from the podium, Spencer also said her victory had come off the back of people being desperate for change.
double quotation markPeople in their thousands told me on the doorsteps, and at the ballot box, that what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on, and we are sick of our hard work making other people rich.
In what appeared to be a swipe at her Reform rival, she added:
double quotation markI can’t and 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. My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me – human.
Updated at 01.35 EST
Hannah Spencer says in her victory speech that she is no different to anyone in her constituency – “I work hard, that is what we do”.
She says working hard used to get you somewhere but doesn’t now.
double quotation markInstead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry. And I don’t think i’is extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life … I think that absolutely everybody should get a nice life.
And clearly I’m not the only person who thinks that. Because I’ve made clear my position and my commitment to working-class communities – the community that I am from.
Updated at 00.44 EST
Tories claim result shows ‘Starmer has killed Labour party’
Responding to the result, a Conservative spokesperson said:
double quotation markKeir 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.
This result shows the Labour government now lacks any support in the country and has no mandate for the terrible policies it is pursuing – increasing the benefits bill, raising taxes, weakening our borders and the Armed Forces.
Updated at 01.05 EST