Gorton and Denton by-election tests Labour’s grip on heartland voters

Internal rifts, growing support for smaller parties are challenging Labour’s dominance in Greater Manchester.Published On 4 Feb 2026A by-election in northern England that should have been routine for the governing Labour Party is instead becoming a test of how fragmented British politics has become.Voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency of Greater Manchester are set to cast ballots on February 26 after long-serving MP Andrew Gwynne resigned in January.Eleven candidates are vying for the seat: Sir Oink A-Lot (Official Monster Raving Loony Party); Nick Buckley (Advance UK); Charlotte Cadden (Conservative Party); Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party); Matt Goodwin (Reform UK); Sebastian Moore (Social Democratic Party); Joseph O’Meachair (Rejoin EU Party); Jackie Pearcey (Liberal Democrats); Hannah Spencer (Green Party); Angeliki Stogia (Labour Party); and Hugo Wills (Communist League).For years, Gorton and Denton was considered a Labour stronghold, but now the party faces a battle amid growing voter dissatisfaction and internal friction.The lead-up to the vote has been dominated by a high-profile dispute over the selection of Labour’s new candidate after a bid by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand as the candidate was blocked, with the party’s leadership choosing Stogia, a local councillor, to defend the seat.Still, Labour commands loyal support. “[They do a] very good job and we support them,” Khaled Osman, a local supporter, told Al Jazeera. “We appreciate everything they do: the support for refugees, for asylum, and for the people who work hard.”Not everyone, however, in this diverse and relatively deprived constituency feels that way.