Spencer's victory speech an object lesson in grace while Reform's man rages | John Crace

"For the Greens, this was a night of undiluted triumph. The first byelection victory in their history. In a seat they had never previously targeted. Life couldn't be more sweet. Spencer's victory speech was endearingly down to earth. She had never considered herself a politician. She was a plumber who had recently qualified as a plasterer."

"She spoke of her pride in being a working-class woman from the constituency. That she understood how hard the cost of living crisis was for everyone. How she valued the way neighbours still looked out for one another. Multiculturalism had defeated the toxic politics of the right. It was an object lesson in grace after next to no sleep."

"About the worst possible result for them, leaving in tatters the idea that they were the only progressive party on the left that could defeat Reform. For the Greens, this was a night of undiluted triumph. The first byelection victory in their history."

The Green Party secured an unexpected and decisive victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection, with candidate Hannah Spencer winning 40% of the vote. Reform came second with 28%, while Labour finished third with 25%. Spencer, a working-class woman from the constituency who recently qualified as a plasterer, delivered a gracious victory speech emphasizing her pride in her background and understanding of the cost of living crisis. Her win marked the Green Party's first byelection victory in a seat they had never previously targeted. The result dealt a significant blow to Labour's claim of being the only progressive party capable of defeating Reform, while Reform candidate Matt Goodwin appeared visibly disappointed by the outcome.

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