Last year’s parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby was decided by just six votes with Reform UK gaining their first MP in the North West.
With a 13,000 majority from the 2024 general election, Gorton and Denton is Labour’s to lose and it will be a significant fall from grace if they do.
Gwynne’s decision to stand down last month created a major headache for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who then personally intervened to stop Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate. Some in the party fear it’s a decision he may come to regret.
This week, the prime minister attended a rally at a community centre in Levenshulme to show support for Manchester councillor Angeliki Stogia, who won the selection. Chatter among the Labour activists was that Sir Keir’s arrival meant there must be growing confidence in senior ranks that the party can hang on to the seat.