The much-contested Gorton and Denton by-election has been won by Hannah Spencer of the Green Party. This marks the first time the Greens have ever won a parliamentary by-election in the UK.
The South-East Manchester constituency, historically a Labour stronghold, was left in need of a new MP when Andrew Gwynne resigned on health grounds.
Breakdown of the vote share in the Gorton and Denton by-election
- The Green Party – Hannah Spencer: 14,980 votes
- Reform UK – Matt Goodwin: 10, 578 votes
- Labour – Angeliki Stogia: 9,364 votes
- Conservative – Charlotte Cadden: 706 votes
- Liberal Democrats – Jackie Pearcy: 653 votes
Electorate: 36,903
Turnout: 47.62%
Who is Hannah Spencer?
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Instagram post via @thegreenparty
Notoriously a plumber – and recently a plasterer – Hannah Spencer leads the Greens on Trafford Council, where she has represented the Hale ward since May 2023. The 34-year-old makes history as the first Green Party candidate to win a Westminster by-election – as well as becoming the party’s first MP in northern England.
What does this mean for UK politics?
Spencer didn’t just scrape a victory, she went above and beyond polling expectations. The Green Party secured 40.7% of the vote—stretching to a massive 12‑point lead over second‑placed Reform UK. This result marked a 27.5‑point surge compared to their 2024 showing.
The fallout for the establishment parties was historic. For the first time since 1931, Labour lost their hold on the area, collapsing into third place. Their 25.4% share was essentially a halving of their 2024 result (50.8%), marking the 13th‑largest by‑election swing against the party in history.
The results were even more dire for the Tories, who hit an all‑time low. With a mere 1.9% of the vote, they lost their deposit in what became their worst‑ever by‑election performance.
With both major parties at or below 20% in the polls, the Conservative/Labour duopoly—the bedrock of post‑war British politics—is facing an unprecedented existential crisis. With the Conservatives failing to contain the surge of Reform UK, and Labour’s long‑standing dominance as the primary progressive force being openly challenged by the Greens, there’s no doubt the result will intensify pressure on Keir Starmer, as Labour MPs begin to question whether his leadership remains viable.