Green Party Upsets Labour in Manchester Stronghold

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered a notable defeat on February 23, 2026, in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester, a constituency it had held for nearly 100 years. Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured 40.7% of the vote, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage took 28.7%, and Labour dropped to 25.4%, placing third. Labour chair Anna Turley described the outcome as “clearly disappointing.”

The by-election was triggered by a resignation for health reasons. Starmer had blocked popular rival Andy Burnham from standing and personally campaigned in the constituency, underscoring the strategic importance he placed on retaining the seat. At the 2024 general election, Labour had won just over half of the local vote.

The loss intensifies scrutiny on Starmer’s leadership amid prior controversy over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite the Epstein connection. Labour lawmakers indicated that while immediate challenges to his position were unlikely, post-May local and regional elections in Wales and Scotland could test his authority.

This marks the first by-election victory in northern England for the Green Party, which advocates leaving NATO and legalizing recreational drugs. The win increases their House of Commons presence to five seats out of 650, signaling rising influence in previously Labour-dominated areas.

Economic stagnation, party scandals, and Starmer’s unpopularity contributed to Labour’s decline. Reform UK, capitalizing on anti-immigration sentiment, finished second, demonstrating a shift toward smaller, ideologically distinct parties. The result underscores the fragmentation of Britain’s political landscape and challenges the two-party dominance that has historically shaped policymaking.