"What makes this loss so consequential to Labour is not just the scale of the defeat but the message it sends to voters about future contests. One of Labour's ace cards had been the hope that however frustrated or disillusioned progressive voters might be with the Starmer government the threat of Reform would be enough to bring them back into the fold and reunite the left. But that argument risks collapsing following last night's result."
"John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said the result underlined how two pillars of Labour's traditional support—white, working-class voters and ethnic minorities—had deserted them. The Green party's historic success in the Gorton and Denton byelection means the future of British politics is now even more uncertain than it was already."
"Hannah Spencer's victory, with a majority of 4,402 votes over Reform, gives the Greens their fifth Westminster MP—120 miles away from the next closest Green seat, proving the party can now win outside of its cluster of southern support. She told supporters: To people here in Gorton and Denton who feel left behind and isolated, I see you and I will fight for you."
The Green Party achieved a historic byelection victory in Gorton and Denton, Manchester, securing their first northern Westminster seat with a 41% vote share—four times their previous best byelection result. Hannah Spencer won with a majority of 4,402 votes over Reform. This outcome undermines Labour's core electoral strategy, which relied on progressive voters supporting them to prevent Reform victories. Political analysts note the result demonstrates that Labour has lost support from two traditional pillars: white working-class voters and ethnic minorities. The Green victory signals to voters they can defeat Reform without Labour support, potentially destabilizing Labour's position in its strongest heartlands over coming years.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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