Green candidate wins shock UK byelection, dealing blow to Labour and Reform
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured a surprise victory in Thursday’s byelection in Gorton and Denton constituency
LONDON (MNTV) — Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured a surprise victory in Thursday’s byelection in the Gorton and Denton constituency, overturning a large Labour majority and dealing a setback to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the right-wing Reform Party led by Nigel Farage.
According to The Guardian, Spencer, a local plumber, erased a 13,000-vote majority Labour had won in the 2024 general election.
Labour fell to third place in the contest, securing 9,364 votes.
The Greens won 14,980 votes, while Reform came second with 10,578.
In her victory speech, Spencer pointed to widening class divides across the United Kingdom, arguing that working people are putting in more effort for diminishing returns.
“Working hard used to get you something,” she said. “It got you a house. A nice life. Holidays. It got you somewhere. But now—working hard? What does that get you?… Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We’re being bled dry.”
The Green Party described the result as evidence it is becoming a serious national contender. The party said it is “on track to win over a hundred seats at the next general election” if a similar swing were repeated nationwide.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski praised Spencer’s campaign and said the result could signal broader gains ahead.
“When I was elected Leader of the Greens I said we were here to replace Labour and I meant it,” Polanski said. “Hannah was a fantastic candidate and I know she’ll make a brilliant MP.”
Starmer called the outcome “deeply disappointing” in a letter to Labour MPs, arguing that voters had missed the opportunity to elect a representative aligned with the governing party.
“The result in Gorton and Denton is deeply disappointing,” he wrote.
“Instead of a Labour MP who can be a local champion delivering for Gorton and Denton alongside a Labour Government and a Labour mayor, the people of Gorton and Denton now have a representative who is more interested in dividing people than uniting them.”
Starmer, whose approval ratings have remained below 20% in several polls, said voters would soon see the benefits of his government’s long-term policy decisions.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
