Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place in blow to Keir Starmer

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Josh Halliday North of England editorFebruary 27, 2026 at 05:32 AM

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In a significant upset, the Green party's Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton byelection, defeating Labour in a constituency they have held for nearly a century. Spencer, a local plumber, became the Green party's first MP in northern England, overturning Labour's previous majority. Labour finished third, behind Reform UK, experiencing a substantial drop in their vote share. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both lost their deposits. The byelection was triggered by the resignation of the previous Labour MP, Andrew Gwynne. Spencer's victory marks a milestone for the Green party, establishing them as a credible political force and raising questions about Labour's strategy and voter base.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Conservatives 40% Andrew Gwynne 40% Liberal Democrats 40% Andy Burnham 50% Nigel Farage 50% Denton ×260% Reform UK ×365% Gorton ×370% Keir Starmer ×270% Labour Party ×980% Hannah Spencer ×585% Green Party ×890%

Keywords

green party 100% byelection 90% hannah spencer 80% labour party 80% political upset 70% gorton and denton 70% voter shift 60% keir starmer 60% reform uk 50% political campaign 40%