Wikipedia mirror

2026 Gorton and Denton by-election

2026 Gorton and Denton by-election
26 February 2026
Gorton and Denton
Boundary of Gorton and Denton in North West England
Incumbent MP

Andrew Gwynne
Independent[a]



A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton will be held on Thursday, 26 February 2026. It was triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, who was sitting as an independent following his suspension from the Labour Party in February 2025. Gwynne said his resignation was due to "significant ill health", and advice from his doctor that it was unsafe for him to return to work.

It will be the second parliamentary by-election during Keir Starmer's tenure as prime minister, after the 2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Candidates representing 11 parties are standing, but numerous commentators have described it as a three-way race between Labour, the Green Party and Reform UK. Andy Burnham, the incumbent mayor of Greater Manchester, applied to be the Labour Party candidate, but his candidacy was blocked by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC). Commentators described his bid as a potential route back to Westminster, and a possible springboard for a future leadership challenge to Starmer.

Background

Gorton and Denton is a predominantly urban constituency in Greater Manchester, containing electoral wards of both the City of Manchester and the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside.[1] It contains such areas as Burnage, Denton, Gorton, Levenshulme and Longsight,[2] and Muslims account for some 28% of the constituency's population.[3] It is the 15th most deprived of England's 543 constituencies:[4][5] 35 of the 40 neighbourhoods in the portion belonging to Manchester are in the most deprived quintile, and 45% of the constituency's children live below the breadline. The constituency includes Manchester's poorest neighbourhood, Longsight East, where average household disposable income is £23,000 a year, less than half that of the highest income neighbourhood in the city.[6]

Andrew Gwynne was first elected as the Labour MP for the constituency of Denton and Reddish in the 2005 UK general election, and was re-elected to the seat for the four subsequent parliaments. Denton and Reddish was abolished in the 2023 Periodic Review.[7][8] In the 2024 UK general election, Gwynne won the new constituency of Gorton and Denton with 50.8% of the vote and a majority of 13,413.[9] Gwynne served in the Starmer ministry as a health minister until February 2025, when he was dismissed from his ministerial role and suspended from the Labour Party as a result of antisemitic comments and comments about an elderly constituent he made in a private WhatsApp group.[10] Following his suspension, Gwynne sat as an independent MP in the House of Commons.[11]

Speculation began in mid-2025 that Gwynne would stand down on health grounds so that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, could stand in his seat. In September 2025, Gwynne denied that he would stand down and rejected the idea.[12] There was also speculation that Burnham's allies were drawing up a list of possible constituencies where he could stand in a by-election, including Gwynne's; at the time, Gwynne said he had no intention of standing down before the 2026 local elections in May.[13] On 22 January 2026, Gwynne announced his resignation, citing "significant ill health" and advice from his doctor that it was unsafe for him to return to work.[14] The following day, he was appointed Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.[15][b] The by-election, the second since the 2024 general election, was formally called by Manchester City Council on 28 January.[16][17]

Candidates

The final list of 11 candidates was published on 3 February 2026.[18][19][20] Pollsters and political commentators have characterised the by-election as a three-way race between the Greens, Labour and Reform UK.[21][22]

2026 Gorton and Denton by-election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Monster Raving Loony Sir Oink A-Lot
Advance UK Nick Buckley
Conservative Charlotte Cadden
Libertarian Dan Clarke
Reform Matt Goodwin
SDP Sebastian Moore
Rejoin EU Joseph O'Meachair
Liberal Democrats Jackie Pearcey
Green Hannah Spencer
Labour Angeliki Stogia
Communist League Hugo Wils

Labour Party

Andy Burnham's proposed candidacy

Following media and public speculation, Andy Burnham, the incumbent mayor of Greater Manchester and former MP for Leigh, requested approval to stand as Labour's candidate on 24 January.[23] As a sitting directly elected mayor, the party's rules required him to seek the approval of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) before putting himself forward for selection as a parliamentary candidate. The NEC met on 25 January and voted 8–1 against Burnham's candidacy,[24] with most NEC Officers including Prime Minister Keir Starmer voting against, NEC Chair and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood abstaining, and party Deputy Leader Lucy Powell voting for allowing Burnham to stand.[24] Burnham expressed his disappointment and concern about the impact of the ruling for Labour in the 2026 local elections, the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, and 2026 Senedd election.[24] After the decision to block Burnham from standing as a Labour candidate, 50 Labour MPs and half a dozen Labour peers signed a letter objecting to the NEC's decision.[25]

The by-election had been framed by the media as a route for Burnham to return to Westminster and potentially challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership.[26][27] Labour figures were reported to be concerned that Burnham's candidacy would trigger a by-election for the position of mayor, which would be expensive and politically risky for the party.[26] Burnham's application to stand in the by-election was supported by some senior Labour figures, including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Powell, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband,[28][29] and organisations Mainstream and Momentum.[30]

Candidate selection

Council portrait of Angeliki Stogia

Angeliki Stogia was announced as the Labour Party candidate on 31 January, beating Eamonn O'Brien, the leader of Bury Council.[20][31] Fellow Manchester City Council members Rabnawaz Akbar, Abid Latif Chohan, and Julie Reid were also on the longlist.[32][33]

Stogia is originally from Arta, in Greece.[31] She is a councillor for the nearby Whalley Range, and her local credentials were noted by Labour insiders speaking to The Guardian as a contributing factor to her victory in a close race.[34][35][36] Stogia previously stood as a Labour candidate for North West England in the 2014 European Parliament election[37] and Chester South and Eddisbury in the 2024 general election.[38] She is an employee of the Arup Group and a professional lobbyist.[39]

Reform UK

Matt Goodwin in 2011

Matt Goodwin was announced as the Reform UK candidate on 27 January.[20][34][40] He is a conservative political commentator, right-wing activist, GB News presenter and former professor at the University of Kent.[41][42] He is also honorary president of the party's student wing, Students4Reform.[41] Goodwin stated that, as a student at the University of Salford, he used to deliver pizzas in the constituency area.[40] He lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.[43][44][45]

Zia Yusuf had previously been mentioned as a potential candidate.[46]

Green Party

Council portrait of Hannah Spencer

On 30 January, the Green Party candidate was announced as Hannah Spencer, a councillor on Trafford Council for Hale in Greater Manchester, who had been the Green candidate in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election.[20][47][48] Spencer, a plumber, is a life-long resident of Greater Manchester and has said that she previously lived in the constituency.[49][34][35]

She was selected by the local party at an online hustings event the night before, beating Muslim Greens co-chair Fesl Reza-Khan and local campaigner Sarah Wakefield.[48][50]

Other political parties

The Conservative Party announced on 1 February that its candidate would be Charlotte Cadden,[20] a former detective chief inspector who was a police officer for 30 years and had served with both Greater Manchester Police and the Metropolitan Police. She is a trustee of the advocacy group Sex Matters.[51] The Liberal Democrats announced on 30 January that their candidate would be Jackie Pearcey,[20] a local resident, school governor, and president of the North West Liberal Democrats,[52] who had previously stood in 2017 and 2019 in Manchester Gorton, which covered the western part of the current constituency.[34][53][54]

On 1 February 2026, Advance UK announced its candidate as charity worker Nick Buckley, a former member of Reform UK who stood for the party in the 2021 Greater Manchester mayoral election, coming fifth, and then in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election as an independent candidate, where he came third.[34][55] The magazine Searchlight criticised Buckley for having invited Nick Griffin, the former leader of the far-right British National Party, onto his podcast, Nick Talks, a week before his selection as Advance UK's candidate.[56]

The Social Democratic Party announced on 29 January that its candidate would be Sebastian Moore, the party's North West Chair, who previously stood as the party's candidate in Manchester Central in 2024.[20][34][57] Rejoin EU announced on 31 January that its candidate would be Joseph O'Meachair,[20] a member of the party's executive committee who stood for the party in Preston in the 2024 general election.[34][35][58] The candidate for the Communist League is Hugo Wils, an aerospace factory worker and member of Unite the Union.[20][35] The candidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party is Sir Oink A-Lot,[20][34][59] who previously stood for the party in the 2015 Oldham West and Royton by-election and the 2023 Manchester City Council election in Northenden.[60][61][62] The candidate for the Libertarian Party is Dan Clarke,[20][34] who stood for the Liberal Party in Runcorn and Helsby in the 2024 general election[63] and a subsequent by-election in May 2025.[64]

Parties not contesting

Initially, the Workers Party's leader George Galloway said he would stand if Burnham became the Labour candidate.[65] On 27 January, it was reported that the party selected Manchester City Councillor Shahbaz Sarwar as its candidate, but on 28 January the party said that it had not yet chosen its candidate and would choose from a list of four contenders, including Galloway and Sarwar.[66] On 1 February, the party announced that it had decided not to stand in the Gorton by-election, describing it as "in the best interests of the working-class" for Labour and Reform to lose.[67]

Your Party chose not to field a candidate as the by-election date coincides with the election of the party's Central Executive Committee, which will make decisions on election candidates.[68] In a statement released on 2 February, the party said that standing would not "serve [its] collective goals", instead urging supporters to "actively mobilise" against Reform in the constituency.[69] PoliticsHome reported that Your Party had previously discussed endorsing the Greens.[70]

Campaign

Labour campaign

The Guardian wrote that Labour's campaign had received a setback due to six local Labour councillors having been found to have shown "complete disregard" for standards in public life, with one of them being judged to have made "several remarks that a reasonable person would find racist" in a "vile" WhatsApp chat. These findings are expected to be reviewed by the council less than four weeks before the by-election takes place.[71] Labour's early campaign was also overshadowed by a scandal involving the relationship between former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein (the late sex offender), that re-emerged following a January 2026 release of files related to Epstein by the US government.[72]

According to The Independent, Labour MPs are despondent and disinclined to campaign for Stogia. Suspecting a large defeat in the historically safe seat amid concerns over Starmer's leadership, and following Burnham being blocked from standing, one Labour MP told the paper that "we all know it is between the Greens and Reform".[73] A number of Labour MPs have noted that they are unenthusiastic about going to the constituency specifically, due to the blocking of Burnham, with another Labour MP saying, "I am not filled with enthusiasm to help out in a contest we are going to lose".[73] On 5 February, The Critic reported that Labour had begun briefing journalists that it was expecting an "inevitable defeat".[74] The Week reported on 7 February that a number of Labour MPs were "secretly" hoping for a loss in the by-election, with the aim of forcing Starmer's resignation and electing a "better leader" as a result.[75]

On 27 January, Labour shared a video on social media of the Reform candidate Matt Goodwin saying at the 2023 Reform UK conference that he was "unfortunate enough to be in Manchester a few days ago", and captioned the video "This is what Reform's latest candidate thinks about where he's standing to represent".[76] In response, Goodwin said that the video was misleading and that he was referring to the 2023 Conservative Party conference, which was held days prior in Manchester. Reform said that it had reported the video to the Greater Manchester Police, who later announced that it would not be proceeding with an investigation after "no offence [was] identified".[77][78]

Starmer has described the by-election as a "straight fight" between Labour and Reform.[79] Labour began focusing campaign material against the Green Party, which similarly positioned itself as the main contender to Reform at the start of the campaign; according to The Standard, Labour figures warned that it would be "existential" for the party if it was beaten by the Greens.[80] Insiders also feared a "Caerphilly scenario", in which Labour voters tactically vote for the Greens in order to stop a Reform win, as was largely seen to be the case in Labour's loss to Plaid Cymru in the 2025 Caerphilly by-election to the Senedd, where it finished in third place behind Reform.[73]

Goodwin was criticised by Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell for suggesting in a 2023 blog post that taxes should be raised on those without children.[81] Goodwin was also criticised for saying that young girls and women should be having children earlier and be given a "biological reality" check, with Labour MP Natalie Fleet accusing Goodwin of wanting a future similar to the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale.[82]

On 26 January, Reform chief whip Lee Anderson was criticised by Angela Rayner for posting images depicting Reform activists that he stated were campaigning in Gorton and Denton, but were actually photographed in Rayner's constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne.[83][84] In response, Anderson commented that the volunteers gathered in a large car park "just outside the constituency" before leaving to campaign in the constituency.[85]

Goodwin was criticised by Labour for saying that UK-born people from ethnic minority backgrounds are not necessarily British.[86][87] Goodwin said the media reports were "misleading", stating: "What I said is if we are in a country where people from second generation communities are committing acts like the 7/7 bombings, Salman Abedi walking into Manchester Arena blowing apart young children and their families, I will never accept the view that is pushed on us by the left by progressives that people like Salman Abedi are as British as the children they murdered."[88]

Labour largely criticised the Greens' party policy of drug decriminalisation.[89] Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said that the Greens are only concerned with undermining Labour rather than winning the seat,[90] and Lucy Powell was reported to have sent a letter to Polanski asking him to withdraw the Greens from the election to avoid splitting the vote and a potential Reform victory.[91] On 3 February, in the wake of both Your Party and the Workers Party confirming that they would not field candidates, Labour accused the Greens of a "grubby deal" in which they asked the two parties not to stand, with the aim of maximising the Green vote against Labour. The Green Party rejected any claims of deals, and said the other parties concluded that "the only way to beat Reform is to vote Green".[92]

Reform UK campaign

Reform UK's Tameside Council member for Longdendale, Allan Hopwood, said the party had been planning for a by-election for months prior.[3] Matt Goodwin positioned the by-election as a "referendum on Keir Starmer" during the Reform launch event, and told The Times that his aim was for Starmer to resign if Reform won in the constituency.[93][35] Reform has described the by-election in campaign material as a "simple choice" between Labour and Reform.[94]

Anderson said that Reform were campaigning on crime and "the decline of the high street", and at a press conference, Anderson and Goodwin also highlighted the issue of child grooming gangs.[86] On 2 February, Reform criticised the Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden for having fundraised for the LGBT Foundation in 2011, which has since published guidance for asylum seekers seeking to secure leave to remain. The Conservatives said that she "completely disagrees" with said guidance and was no longer associated with the organisation.[95]

On 6 February, The Mill reported that Reform had distributed printed campaign material – presented as a handwritten-style letter to the reader from a "concerned neighbour" and credited to a local pensioner, 74-year-old Patricia Clegg, who had been asked by Reform to write supporting its campaign – without the appropriate legal imprint disclosing the funding origin of the material.[94][96][97] Reform stated that the issue was "outside of [its] control", and Hardings Print Solutions later took "full responsibility" for erroneously omitting the imprint during its production process. Following advice from the Electoral Commission, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that it had received complaints relating to the matter and would pursue an investigation under Section 110 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.[98][94] On 9 February, Patricia Clegg's son Andrew posted on Facebook that his mother did not sign off on the letter distributed by Reform, and that Reform, not the printers, were at fault for the error.[99]

Green campaign

Zack Polanski formally launched the Green Party campaign on 27 January, where Gaza played a prominent role.[100][101] At the event, he framed the Green campaign to the economic left of Labour and denied that the Greens would split the progressive vote, citing the government's proposed cuts to disability benefits to suggest that Labour is not a "left-wing party".[102] The Green Party has described the by-election as a "Reform–Green battle", and had begun canvassing in the seat by 25 January.[103]

The Green candidate, Hannah Spencer, emphasised that she was local to Manchester and argued that her work, taking her into many ordinary people's homes, helped her have a strong sense of everyday realities for voters,[104][105][106] and the poor insulation of many of their houses.[107] Her campaign focused on the high cost of living, which she proposed to address by reducing inequality, partly via a wealth tax, and on supporting public services, including nationalising water supplies.[104][106] Spencer said she wanted more diverse walks of life represented in Parliament.[107]

On 28 January, a bar chart used in Green literature was criticised by Full Fact. The bar chart displayed percentage point changes compared to the previous general, and said "only the Greens can stop Reform" when the model showed Labour winning and Greens coming in third. Full Fact acknowledged that another model had predicted a Green Party victory.[108] The Greens apologised to political scientist Robert Ford after Ford complained that his quotes were used "out of context" on leaflets without consulting him to give the impression that he supported the party's chances of winning the by-election. Campaign group chats leaked by The Telegraph showed Green activists raising concerns over the graphs and a lack of policy information on initial leaflets.[109]

On the weekend of 7 February, a group of Green campaigners were removed from an assisted living residence in Burnage after door-to-door canvassing after concerns from elderly residents. A Green spokesperson apologised and stated that an investigation had been launched.[110] Reform criticised Spencer for resurfaced Mumsnet posts from 2021, in which she criticised Levenshulme as being full of "(supposed) [sic] money-laundering takeaways" that crowd out independent businesses. A spokesman for the Greens said that Spencer would campaign for investment in the community.[111]

The Green campaign experienced extensive misinformation circulated about Spencer online,[112][113][114][115] and Spencer undertook some of the election campaign accompanied by a security guard after facing verbal abuse connected with misinformation.[116][117]

Goodwin was criticised by the Greens for saying that UK-born people from ethnic minority backgrounds are not necessarily British.[86][87] Goodwin said the media reports were "misleading", stating: "What I said is if we are in a country where people from second generation communities are committing acts like the 7/7 bombings, Salman Abedi walking into Manchester Arena blowing apart young children and their families, I will never accept the view that is pushed on us by the left by progressives that people like Salman Abedi are as British as the children they murdered."[88]

Endorsements

Labour Party

Reform UK

Green Party

Hustings and debates

Goodwin dropped out of the Local Voices hustings event on 10 February saying that he did not attend due to concerns about the impartiality of the hustings. Labour and the Greens criticised him for withdrawing, with Labour accusing him of dropping out after requesting a private green room and attempting to "pack" the hustings with supporters from outside the constituency.[126]

No. Date Location Host Candidates Ref.
 P  Participant    A  Absent Cadden
(Cons) 		Goodwin
(Reform) 		Pearcey
(Lib Dem) 		Spencer
(Green) 		Stogia
(Labour) 		Others
1 10 February 2026, 7pm Gorton Methodist Church, Gorton Local Voices P A P P P [c] [126][127]
2 12 February 2026, 2pm Mitchell Henry House, Chadderton Manchester Evening News P P P P P – [128]
3 12 February 2026, 7pm St Peter's Church, Levenshulme Levenshulme Community Association P P P P P [d] [129][130]
4 16 February 2026 MediaCityUK, Salford BBC Radio Manchester P P P P P – [131]

Opinion polls

On 28 January, The Telegraph reported on a poll by Find Out Now, which surveyed Gorton and Denton residents.[132] Tyron Surmon, the head of research at Find Out Now, confirmed to the paper that the small initial sample size of 143 carried a high margin of error. After adjusting for turnout and removing "don't know"s, the final voting intention calculation had a sample size of only 51 for the general poll and 57 for the hypothetical poll.[133] The poll was criticised by other pollsters due to this small sample size.[134] Find Out Now apologised for "any impression that the data was more precise than it could be",[135] and said that the poll "should not be analysed beyond" the suggestion that the race is likely to be close, adding that it does not indicate whether one party is in the lead.[136]

It was reported that internal polling for Reform UK had themselves in first, with the Greens in second. The Greens also shared canvassing data, which is not equivalent to polling data, with Owen Jones, showing them 5 points behind Reform, with Labour in third.[137] On 28 January, The Independent reported that pollster Lord Robert Hayward said he can "foresee the Greens winning". Before the Workers' Party withdrew from the campaign, political scientist John Curtice suggested the election would be a four-way fight between Labour, Reform, Greens and Galloway.[138] Academic Robert Ford described the by-election as a "pollster's nightmare", and said that any of Reform, Labour, or the Greens could win.[116]

Date(s)
conducted 		Pollster Client Sample
size 		Labour Reform Green Workers Cons Lib Dem Other Lead
25–27 Jan 2026 Find Out Now[133] Betterworld Ltd 143[e] 33% 36% 21% – 8% 3% 0% 3
4 Jul 2024 2024 general election 50.8% 14.1% 13.2% 10.3% 7.9% 3.8% N/A 36.7
With Andy Burnham as the Labour candidate
Date(s)
conducted 		Pollster Client Sample
size 		Labour (Burnham) Reform Green Workers Cons Lib Dem Other Lead
25–27 Jan 2026 Find Out Now[133] Betterworld Ltd 143[f] 53% 30% 8% – 7% 2% 0% 23
4 Jul 2024 2024 general election 50.8% 14.1% 13.2% 10.3% 7.9% 3.8% N/A 36.7

Reaction

The by-election was described as "very critical" by Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting in the context of Burnham's potential candidacy.[139] A Sunday Times journalist also called it critical and noted the presence of Chancellor Rachel Reeves in Gorton instead of a scheduled trip to China.[140] Following developments in the Mandelson scandal that cast doubt on Keir Starmer's leadership, a Labour MP referred to the by-election as "massive".[141]

Previous result

General election 2024: Gorton and Denton[142][143][144]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Gwynne 18,555 50.8 −16.4
Reform Lee Moffitt 5,142 14.1 +9.2
Green Amanda Gardner 4,810 13.2 +10.7
Workers Party Amir Burney 3,766 10.3 N/A
Conservative Ruth Welsh 2,888 7.9 −11.0
Liberal Democrats John Reid 1,399 3.8 −2.0
Majority 13,413 36.7 −11.7
Turnout 36,560 46.8 −14.9
Registered electors 78,125
Labour hold Swing −12.8

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Although elected for Labour in 2024, Gwynne was sitting as an independent MP at the time of his resignation.
  2. ^ One of two offices to which MPs can be appointed that effectively trigger their resignation from the House of Commons, as resignation in its own right is not permitted by law.
  3. ^ Also in attendance were: Buckley (Advance), Moore (SDP), and Wils (Communist).
  4. ^ Also in attendance were: Buckley (Advance), Clarke (Libertarian), Moore (SDP), O'Meachair (Rejoin), and Wils (Communist).
  5. ^ Excluding those who would not vote or answered "Don't know", there were 51 respondents who gave an answer.
  6. ^ Excluding those who would not vote or answered "Don't know", there were 57 respondents who gave an answer.

References

  1. ^ "Andy Burnham plans to stand in Gorton & Denton by-election". The Times. 24 January 2026. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Location of Gorton and Denton (Constituency)". MPs and Lords. UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Halliday, Josh (23 January 2026). "Can Andy Burnham calm the anger in a Manchester seat Labour fears losing?". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Haygarth, Dan (10 February 2026). "'I would pack Starmer's suitcase for him': Disdain for Labour unites Gorton and Denton ahead of crucial by-election". The Independent.
  5. ^ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". House of Commons Library. UK Parliament. 5 November 2025.
  6. ^ Dubas-Fisher, David; Holt, James (11 February 2026). "The maps that reveal the truth about Britain's most contested constituency". Manchester Evening News.
  7. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – North West". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Constituency Changes: Gorton and Denton". Parallel Parliament. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Gorton and Denton – General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Andrew Gwynne sacked as health minister over comments posted on a WhatsApp group". Sky News. 9 February 2025. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Parliamentary career for Andrew Gwynne – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  12. ^ Topping, Stephen (20 September 2025). "Andrew Gwynne breaks silence over rumours he would step aside for Andy Burnham". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  13. ^ Halliday, Josh (14 December 2025). "Labour's Andrew Gwynne says he has no plans to give up seat for Andy Burnham". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  14. ^ Zeffman, Henry; Watson, Iain (22 January 2026). "MP stands down potentially paving way for Burnham's return". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Chancellor of the Exchequer". 23 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  16. ^ Stannard, Tom (28 January 2026). "Notice of Election: Gorton and Denton by-election". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  17. ^ "By-elections since the 2024 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  18. ^ "The next election – Gorton and Denton By‑Election". Manchester City Council. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Notice of agents for the February 2026 Gorton and Denton by election". Manchester City Council. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Stannard, Tom (3 February 2026). "Statement of persons nominated: Gorton and Denton by-election" (PDF). Manchester City Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  21. ^ Mata, William (5 February 2026). "Three-horse race predicted in 'crucial' Gorton and Denton by-election for Starmer". LBC.
  22. ^ Walters, Jack (22 January 2026). "Ex-Labour minister sacked by Keir Starmer RESIGNS to pave way for Andy Burnham in crunch by-election". GB News.
  23. ^ Stacey, Kiran; McKelvie, Geraldine; Taylor, Harry (24 January 2026). "Starmer allies urge him to block Andy Burnham from running in byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  24. ^ a b c Nevett, Joshua; Mason, Chris (25 January 2026). "Andy Burnham 'disappointed' after bid to become MP blocked". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  25. ^ Wheeler, Richard; Seddon, Paul (27 January 2026). "Fifty Labour MPs sign letter objecting to Andy Burnham decision". BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  26. ^ a b Nevett, Joshua (23 January 2026). "Andy Burnham faces decision on bid to return as MP". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  27. ^ Coates, Sam (23 January 2026). "Andy Burnham, next PM? The big hurdle facing popular mayor". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  28. ^ Devlin, Kate (24 January 2026). "Burnham says he plans to stand in by-election". The Independent. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  29. ^ Whannel, Kate (24 January 2026). "Andy Burnham seeks permission to stand in by-election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  30. ^ Green, Daniel (24 January 2026). "Andy Burnham seeks permission to stand in Gorton and Denton by-election". LabourList. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  31. ^ a b Finighan, Bethan (31 January 2026). "Who is Angeliki Stogia? Labour's Gorton and Denton by-election candidate in full". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  32. ^ Davies, Ethan (27 January 2026). "Five councillors named on Labour's Gorton and Denton by-election long list including top mayoral official". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  33. ^ Davies, Ethan (27 January 2026). "Five councillors on Labour's long list for Gorton and Denton". Roch Valley Radio. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Confirmed Gorton and Denton by-election candidates". BBC News. 1 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Full list of confirmed Gorton and Denton by-election candidates so far". ITV News. 3 February 2026. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  36. ^ Al-Othman, Hannah (31 January 2026). "Labour chooses Angeliki Stogia for Gorton and Denton byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  37. ^ Bernstein, Sir Howard (24 April 2014). "Statement of Persons Nominated". North West Votes. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  38. ^ Watterson, Kaleigh (22 April 2024). "Chester South and Eddisbury: Labour name candidate for seat". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  39. ^ Dunn, Will (3 July 2024). "Revealed: the 103 professional lobbyists standing in the 2024 general election". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024.
  40. ^ a b "Academic Matt Goodwin unveiled as Reform UK's by-election candidate". BBC News. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  41. ^ a b Stavrou, Athena (27 January 2026). "Matt Goodwin unveiled as Reform UK candidate for Gorton and Denton by-election". The Independent. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  42. ^ Williams, Tom (8 August 2024). "Matthew Goodwin 'still an academic' despite leaving Kent role". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024.
  43. ^ Bloodworth, James (16 July 2025). "Matthew Goodwin, Reform and the politics of resentment". Prospect. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  44. ^ O'Grady, Sean (6 February 2026). "Is Matthew Goodwin too rabid even for Reform?". The Independent. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  45. ^ Stannard, Tom (3 February 2026). "Statement of persons nominated: Gorton and Denton by-election" (PDF). Manchester City Council. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  46. ^ Kenyon, Megan (25 January 2026). "Andy Burnham blocked from standing in Gorton and Denton". The New Statesman. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  47. ^ Jackson, Nick (4 May 2023). "Trafford local council elections 2023 results in full". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  48. ^ a b c Boyd, Raphael (30 January 2026). "Greens select former mayoral candidate to run in Gorton and Denton byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  49. ^ Britton, Paul (30 January 2026). "Green Party announce plumber Hannah Spencer as Gorton and Denton by-election candidate". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  50. ^ Mulla, Imran (29 January 2026). "Meet the frontrunners to be Green candidate in crucial UK by-election". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  51. ^ "Charlotte Cadden chosen as Tory candidate for Gorton by-election". BBC News. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  52. ^ "Executive – North West Liberal Democrats". www.northwestlibdems.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  53. ^ Burnell, Paul (30 January 2026). "Liberal Democrats name Gorton and Denton by-election candidate". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  54. ^ "Manchester Gorton". BBC News. December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  55. ^ Clark, Adam (1 February 2026). "Advance UK names Nick Buckley MBE as Gorton and Denton by election candidate". Roch Valley Radio. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  56. ^ "Advance UK's by-election candidate is Nick Griffin fanboy". Searchlight. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  57. ^ Burnell, Paul (30 January 2026). "Sebastian Moore named as Social Democratic Party by-election candidate". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  58. ^ "Gorton and Denton by-election: Rejoin EU choose Joseph O'Meachair". BBC News. 31 January 2026. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  59. ^ Nick the Flying Brick. "Sir Oink-a-Lot in Gorton & Denton" (Press release). Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  60. ^ Mardell, Mark (26 November 2015). "Oldham is a fundamental test for Labour". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  61. ^ Bloom, Dan (4 December 2015). "Labour wins Oldham by-election with thumping majority". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  62. ^ Brace, Thomas (5 May 2023). "'Every non-voter is a loony voter': Sir Oink-A-Lot of the Monster Raving Loony Party". Mancunian Matters. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  63. ^ "Runcorn and Helsby – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  64. ^ "Runcorn and Helsby by-election: Reform beats Labour by just six votes". BBC News. 2 May 2025. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  65. ^ Mason, Rowena; Halliday, Josh; Topping, Alexandra (23 January 2026). "Starmer faces pressure not to block Andy Burnham's return to parliament". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  66. ^ Mullen, Tom (27 January 2026). "Workers Party of Britain to choose from four for by-election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  67. ^ "Workers Party of Britain not contesting by-election". BBC News. 2 February 2026. Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  68. ^ Kenyon, Megan (30 January 2026). "Corbyn's slate must win election for Your Party to survive, allies warn". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  69. ^ Your Party [@thisisyourparty] (2 February 2026). "📢 Statement on the Gorton & Denton By-Election" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 February 2026 – via Twitter.
  70. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (27 January 2026). "Greens Frame By-Election As Battle Against 'Anti-Muslim Record' Of Reform's Matthew Goodwin". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  71. ^ Halliday, Josh (27 January 2026). "Labour's Gorton and Denton byelection campaign hit by fallout from 'vile' WhatsApp chat". The Guardian.
  72. ^ Farr, Martin (3 February 2026). "The fall of Peter Mandelson and the many questions the UK government must now answer". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026.
  73. ^ a b c Maddox, David; Devlin, Kate (30 January 2026). "Labour MPs 'reluctant to campaign in by-election' as Reform and Greens threaten to snatch seat". The Independent. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  74. ^ Santina, Ava (5 February 2026). "Starmer's Gorton gamble". The Critic Magazine. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  75. ^ "Why the Gorton and Denton by-election is a 'Frankenstein's monster'". The Week. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  76. ^ Walker, James (28 January 2026). "Reform UK report Labour to police over video of by-election candidate Matt Goodwin". The National. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  77. ^ Hymas, Charles (28 January 2026). "Reform reports Labour to police over 'misleading' video". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  78. ^ Schofield, Kevin (29 January 2026). "Reform UK Mocked After Police Refuse To Probe 'Misleading' Labour Post On X". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  79. ^ McKeon, Christopher (28 January 2026). "Gorton and Denton is 'straight fight' between Labour and Reform, says Starmer". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  80. ^ Praagh, Anna van (5 February 2026). "Zack Polanski: I thought what Keir Starmer said about me was vile". The Standard. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  81. ^ Cooke, Millie (6 February 2026). "Reform by-election candidate suggested people who don't have kids should pay more tax". The Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  82. ^ Topping, Alexandra (13 February 2026). "'Handmaid's Tale future': Reform's Matt Goodwin sparks outcry with fertility comments". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  83. ^ Crace, John (27 January 2026). "Reform's Matt Goodwin is sure he's the right man for Gorton and Denton. He just doesn't know why…". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  84. ^ Burke, Dave (27 January 2026). "Reform MP Lee Anderson mocked by Angela Rayner over major by-election blunder". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  85. ^ Smith, John (27 January 2026). "Ashfield MP Lee Anderson mocked by Angela Rayner over election 'blunder'". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  86. ^ a b c Halliday, Josh (27 January 2026). "Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  87. ^ a b Williams, Jennifer (27 January 2026). "Reform UK picks Matt Goodwin for Gorton and Denton by-election". Archived from the original on 27 January 2026.
  88. ^ a b Wilkinson, Damon (15 February 2026). "'If Reform win it's an existential blow to Labour'". Manchester Evening News.
  89. ^ Mason, Rowena; Al-Othman, Hannah (28 January 2026). "Labour attacks Green party drugs policy in Gorton and Denton byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  90. ^ Neilan, Catherine (1 February 2026). "Zack Polanski cowardly for not fighting byelection, Labour says". The Observer.
  91. ^ Barlow, Eleanor (7 February 2026). "Polanski declares Gorton and Denton by-election a choice between 'hate and hope' ahead of Reform battle". The Independent.
  92. ^ Martin, Daniel (3 February 2026). "Labour accuses Greens of 'grubby deal' in by-election battle". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  93. ^ Glancy, Josh (31 January 2026). "Did a dinner snub light the right-wing fire in Matt Goodwin?". The Times. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  94. ^ a b c Gottlieb, Ophira; Dulhanty, Jack; McLaughlin, Lucy (6 February 2026). "Exclusive: Reform UK just broke electoral law in Gorton and Denton". The Mill. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  95. ^ Hymas, Charles (2 February 2026). "Reform criticises Tory candidate who fundraised for pro-migrant charity". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  96. ^ Whittingham, Stewart; Tiffin, Annabel (8 February 2026). "Gorton and Denton by-election: MP responds after printers admit leaflet error". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  97. ^ Al-Othman, Hannah; Topping, Alexandra (6 February 2026). "Reform faces police investigation over 'concerned neighbour' byelection letters". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  98. ^ Scheerhout, John (6 February 2026). "Police investigating as Reform's printing firm apologises over resident's endorsement letter that failed to say it came from party". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  99. ^ "'Reform left my mum to the dogs'". The Mill. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  100. ^ Snepvangers, Pieter (28 January 2026). "Greens shun 'tree-hugging' and embrace Gaza in by-election battle". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  101. ^ Kenyon, Megan (27 January 2026). "Who will be the Green Party candidate in Gorton and Denton?". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026.
  102. ^ Rea, Ailbhe (31 January 2026). "Why No 10 thinks this week will decide Gorton and Denton". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  103. ^ Kenyon, Megan (25 January 2026). "Zack Polanski will not stand in Gorton and Denton". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  104. ^ a b Finighan, Bethan (7 February 2026). "Why Hannah Spencer has had enough of politics as usual". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  105. ^ Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski, Daniel (11 February 2026). "Starmer-Regierung in Großbritannien: Bad Timing". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  106. ^ a b Spencer, Hannah (30 January 2026). "'People Are Struggling, My Priority Is Cutting The Cost Of Living,' Says Green Party By-Election Candidate". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  107. ^ a b Novara Media (30 January 2026). Meet The New Green Party Candidate | #NovaraLIVE. Retrieved 4 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  108. ^ "Green Party by-election bar chart claim is misleading". Full Fact. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  109. ^ Diver, Tony (8 February 2026). "Knives out for Green by-election candidate ... from her own side". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  110. ^ Diver, Tony (12 February 2026). "Green campaigners thrown out of assisted living complex". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  111. ^ Diver, Tony (10 February 2026). "Green by-election candidate 'was glad she left' area". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  112. ^ Moore, Willem (31 January 2026). "Foreign accounts are swarming UK Green candidate Hannah Spencer". Canary. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  113. ^ "Gorton and Denton by-election is choice between hope and hate, Greens say". Western Telegraph. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  114. ^ "Gorton and Denton by-election: Zack Polanski urges 'hope over hate'". BBC News. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  115. ^ "No, Hannah Spencer doesn't live in a massive house with a weird chimney". Yahoo News. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  116. ^ a b Halliday, Josh (8 February 2026). "'A pollster's nightmare': stakes are high in three-way fight for Gorton and Denton". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  117. ^ Al-Othman, Hannah (12 February 2026). "Labour and Reform candidates clash over women feeling threatened by far-right rhetoric". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  118. ^ Gye, Hugo (3 February 2026). "Operation stop Farage: New tactical voting plan for Starmer's critical by-election". The i Paper. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  119. ^ Walker, Peter (30 January 2026). "Labour accuses Reform candidate of 'toxic politics' after Tommy Robinson endorsement". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  120. ^ "Keir Starmer criticises Tommy Robinson endorsement of Reform by-election candidate". ITV News. 31 January 2026. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  121. ^ Eastlake, Daisy (30 January 2026). "Tommy Robinson backs Reform candidate in Gorton & Denton by-election". The Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  122. ^ "Reform by-election candidate endorsed by far-right activist Tommy Robinson". The Independent. 30 January 2026. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  123. ^ Scotson, Tom (26 January 2026). "Muslim Voter Group To Endorse Greens In Gorton And Denton By-Election". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  124. ^ Torre, Berny (3 February 2026). "Your Party says it won't contest Gorton & Denton by-election". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  125. ^ "Vote Green in Gorton and Denton". The Morning Star. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  126. ^ a b Rats in a Sack (11 February 2026). "Snowflake Matt Goodwin ducks out of hustings". The New World. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  127. ^ Walton, Jack (12 February 2026). "We made six pledges to Manchester. Now we're making good on them". The Mill. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  128. ^ Parsons, Rob (12 February 2026). "'Welcome to Manchester': Three words and the tone was set before it even began". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  129. ^ Parker, Erin (13 February 2026). "Boos and sharp exchanges at Levenshulme hustings ahead of Gorton and Denton vote". Tameside Reporter. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  130. ^ Jones, Owen (17 February 2026). "What's the state of this Starmer-led nation? Speak to angry voters in Gorton and Denton and it all becomes clear". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  131. ^ Burnell, Paul (17 February 2026). "What we learned from BBC Gorton and Denton debate". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  132. ^ Penna, Dominic (28 January 2026). "Burnham ban set to hand Reform by-election victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  133. ^ a b c "Gorton and Denton by-election poll". Find Out Now. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  134. ^ Casalicchio, Emilio (29 January 2026). "London Playbook PM: Pillow, post-talks". POLITICO. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  135. ^ Surmon, Tyron. "Gorton and Denton by-election poll". Find Out Now. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  136. ^ "Poll quoted in Labour by-election ad doesn't reliably show it's the only party which can beat Reform – Full Fact". fullfact.org. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  137. ^ Jones, Owen (3 February 2026). "Starmer has little to offer voters of either right or left in Gorton and Denton. That's why he's facing a perfect storm". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  138. ^ Maddox, David (28 January 2026). "Labour launches attack on Greens as pollster tips Polanski's party to win crucial Gorton and Denton by-election". The Independent. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  139. ^ "Streeting weighs in on Burnham by-election decision". Independent Television News. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  140. ^ Glancy, Josh (31 January 2026). "Where's Rachel Reeves? U-turns suggest her power may be waning". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  141. ^ Zeffman, Henry (5 February 2026). "Could this be the beginning of the end for Starmer?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  142. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll for Gorton and Denton" (PDF). Manchester Council. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  143. ^ "Election 24: Gorton and Denton results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  144. ^ "Election results – Parliamentary general election 2024". manchester.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.