As the sun rises over Greater Manchester on February 26, 2026, the usually quiet neighborhoods of Gorton and Denton find themselves at the heart of a political storm. The by-election here, once considered a routine affair in a Labour stronghold, has become a dramatic three-way contest—one that could reshape the national political landscape and test the very mettle of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
It all began with a burst of energy on the campaign’s final day. Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, determined to rally the troops, danced atop an open-top bus as Oasis’s ‘She’s Electric’ blared through the chilly air. The spectacle, witnessed by activists and passersby alike, encapsulated the party’s determination to keep spirits high despite the mounting pressure. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Powell’s moves inspired a flurry of sign-waving from the party faithful in Rushford Park. Labour’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia, joined Powell and former party leader Ed Miliband on the now-iconic battle bus, which wound its way through Levenshulme’s high street, drawing curious glances and, perhaps, a few undecided voters.
But beneath the fanfare, anxiety simmered. Labour’s once-unshakeable grip on the seat—secured by Andrew Gwynne in a landslide just 18 months ago—had been loosened by scandal and shifting allegiances. Gwynne’s suspension over the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal, involving alleged anti-Semitic remarks and insensitive jokes about a constituent, left a mark on the party’s reputation. Many voters, as the LDRS noted, felt their trust in Labour had been eroded, with opposition parties quick to seize on the moment.
Reform UK and the Green Party have surged in popularity, transforming the election into a genuine dead-heat. According to the Independent, Labour’s Angeliki Stogia now faces intense competition from Reform’s Matt Goodwin and the Greens’ Hannah Spencer. Polls suggest the race is too close to call, with each party’s internal data hinting at victory but little certainty for any.
For Sir Keir Starmer, the stakes could hardly be higher. The by-election is seen as a major test of his leadership, especially after Labour’s polling numbers dipped following their entry into government. Starmer himself visited the constituency on February 24, signaling optimism and throwing his weight behind Stogia. In a final message to voters, Starmer declared, “The choice at today’s by-election could not be more stark. Unity or division. Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back.” He went further, directly criticizing his opponent: “Reform’s Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren’t white can’t be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing.” (Independent)
Labour’s strategy has been to cast the contest as a straight fight between themselves and Reform, hoping to rally wavering supporters. According to Labour sources cited by the Independent, this approach has had some success, with reports of voters removing Green posters and pledging support for Stogia. The party has mobilized over 1,000 activists to canvass the constituency—an all-hands-on-deck effort to stave off defeat in what was once a safe seat.
Meanwhile, the Green Party has positioned itself as the only viable choice for those determined to keep Reform UK out of power. Green candidate Hannah Spencer, buoyed by tactical voting campaigns, pledged to “run the far right out of Manchester, not to come back.” She told the Independent, “The polls and independent tactical voting organisation are clear that voting Green is the only way to ensure Reform don’t win. We are confident and have run a fantastic campaign.”
Reform UK, led by the ever-controversial Nigel Farage, has not shied away from the fray. Farage himself visited Gorton and Denton on the eve of the election, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with candidate Matt Goodwin. His message was blunt: “The Prime Minister is panicking and knows he has broken his promises to the British people. Vote Reform to ditch Starmer.” (Independent) Yet, Reform’s campaign hit turbulence when interim campaign manager Adam Mitula was suspended over reports of racist and misogynist social media posts—a controversy Mitula dismissed as remarks “taken out of context.”
On the ground, the mood is a mix of excitement, exhaustion, and exasperation. Some voters, like Liam Kendrick in Burnage, are swayed by Reform’s promise to “stop the boats,” making immigration a central issue. Others, like a 20-something in Levenshulme, are drawn to the Greens. Still, there are those who remain loyal to Labour, citing the party’s local presence and attentiveness to community concerns. “My MP has surgeries and is here in the community. He is listening to people and their concerns about immigration,” a 66-year-old resident told the LDRS.
But not everyone is energized by the campaign. A 73-year-old pensioner in Gorton described the relentless door knocks and campaign literature as “like torture,” telling the LDRS, “Not last weekend, the weekend before, we must’ve had 30 leaflets or door knocks. Some of them will not take no for an answer. It’s like a swarm of locusts.”
The rhetoric has grown heated. Lucy Powell, Labour’s Deputy Leader, pulled no punches, branding Nigel Farage a “phony” and a “charlatan” who “goes around making out he’s the hero of the working class, yet he goes against everything that is there to support working class communities” (The Mirror). On the Labour battle bus, emblazoned with the slogan “Remember the 350 mil for the NHS? You can’t trust Farage,” Powell urged voters not to “look back in anger” on Friday if Reform were to win. “It’s only Labour that can beat Reform here,” she insisted.
Ed Miliband, now Energy Secretary, joined in the criticism of Matt Goodwin, taking issue with his comments on Britishness and defending the contributions of those not born in the UK. “Angeliki has this great line that’s ‘not born here but drawn here’, and so many people contribute to this country who weren’t born here, how dare Matt Goodwin say that. I think about my Dad, who served in the Royal Navy, fought against fascism, and this guy says ‘well he wasn’t really British’. He’s an absolute disgrace. We are the people offering hope in this election, and Reform are offering hate. Matt Goodwin, the guy who says if you aren’t born here you can’t be British. What an insult to all the people in this community who work hard.” (The Mirror)
Angeliki Stogia, Labour’s candidate, didn’t hold back against the Greens either. “They are promising pie in the sky politics, knowing they will never deliver it. Every vote for the Greens is a vote to let Reform through the back door,” she argued, as reported by The Mirror.
As polling stations open from morning until 10pm, the eyes of the nation are fixed on Gorton and Denton. By the early hours of Friday, Greater Manchester will have its answer—a result that could send shockwaves far beyond its borders and mark a turning point for more than just the candidates on the ballot.