The political landscape in Greater Manchester was thrown into sharp relief on February 26, 2026, as the Gorton and Denton by-election unfolded amid swirling allegations, shifting loyalties, and a rare sense of uncertainty. What was once considered a safe Labour stronghold suddenly became the stage for a potential seismic shift in British politics, with the Green Party on the cusp of an unprecedented parliamentary by-election victory and accusations of electoral malpractice casting a long shadow over the proceedings.
As ballot boxes arrived at Manchester Central and counting began, the Greens, led locally by candidate Hannah Spencer and buoyed by party figure Zack Polanski, appeared strikingly confident. According to the Press Association, a Green Party source remarked, "Things are feeling positive. Whatever happens, I think it’s fair to say that Greens are here to stay now as a progressive voice in British politics. I think it’s a seismic moment in British politics where Greens are showing that they’re a party that can protect the country from the threat of Reform, and that Labour’s not up to the job." The party’s optimism was not unfounded—if successful, this would mark the Greens’ first ever parliamentary by-election win, a moment many within the party described as historic.
Labour, meanwhile, was on the defensive. Having secured more than half the vote in 2024, the party’s candidate Angeliki Stogia faced an uphill battle. The mood among Labour sources, as reported by the Press Association, was notably downbeat: “Early signs at the count indicate the Greens have been able to turn out support in a way they wouldn’t be able to replicate at a general election.” Anna Turley, Labour’s party chairwoman, tried to sound a note of optimism, saying she was “really optimistic” about Labour’s chances, but conceded, “Of course incumbent government always find it difficult to fight by-elections.”
The stakes for Labour were particularly high, given the broader context of national politics. A defeat in Gorton and Denton, a once-safe seat, would be seen as a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. The Prime Minister’s position was already under scrutiny due to the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal, a string of high-profile departures from No 10, and Labour’s flagging popularity in the polls. The decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from running in the by-election added another layer of internal party tension, setting the stage for renewed speculation should Labour lose.
As the votes were counted, turnout was recorded at 47.6 percent, almost identical to the 47.8 percent turnout in the 2024 general election. The contest itself was a tight three-way race, with Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin joining Labour and the Greens in vying for the seat. Notably, Labour had already lost the only other Westminster by-election since 2024, in Runcorn and Helsby, to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK—a loss that had already sent ripples through the party’s ranks.
But it was not just the political drama that drew attention to Gorton and Denton. Allegations of illegal family voting—where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on how to vote—threatened to overshadow the entire process. Election observer group Democracy Volunteers issued a rare report on the night of the election, revealing that family voting had been observed in 68 percent of polling stations, affecting 12 percent of voters monitored. This was an exceptionally high rate, especially when compared to the recent Runcorn and Helsby by-election, where family voting was seen in just 12 percent of polling stations and affected about 1 percent of voters.
John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, explained the gravity of the situation to the Press Association: “We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.” He further clarified, “It is a normal international standard not to issue a comment until after a voting has finished, and we posed questions about family voting in several polling stations.”
The response from political figures was swift and polarized. Labour’s Anna Turley described the report as “extremely worrying and concerning,” emphasizing the seriousness with which the party viewed the allegations. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, escalated the rhetoric, accusing the Greens of “sectarian cheating” and raising what he called “questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas,” according to GB News. Matt Goodwin, Reform UK’s candidate, echoed these concerns on social media, stating, “Given the reports we are reading in UK media about family voting and sectarianism, I am deeply concerned about the extent to which the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election is a free, fair, and democratic election.”
For their part, the Greens were quick to defend their integrity. Leader Zack Polanski indicated that the party would support a probe into the issue, signaling a willingness to address concerns head-on and maintain transparency. Manchester City Council, responsible for overseeing the election, reported that no issues had been formally raised during polling and expressed disappointment at the timing of the allegations, noting it was “extremely disappointing” that Democracy Volunteers waited until after polls closed to make the claims public.
The by-election itself was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who stepped down for health reasons. But what might have been a routine contest quickly became a microcosm of the broader tensions and debates currently roiling British politics. The unusually high rate of observed family voting not only raised questions about the specific conduct of the Gorton and Denton by-election but also prompted a wider discussion about election integrity, community practices, and the role of observer groups in ensuring fair democratic processes.
Family voting is considered illegal in the UK, as it undermines the secrecy and independence of the ballot. The stark contrast between the 68 percent of polling stations observed with family voting in Gorton and Denton and the mere 12 percent in Runcorn and Helsby is significant. This gap has fueled debate about whether systemic issues exist in certain constituencies, and how best to address them without inflaming community tensions or undermining trust in the process.
Meanwhile, the political implications are hard to overstate. Should the Greens indeed clinch their first ever parliamentary by-election victory, it would not only mark a historic achievement for the party but also signal a dramatic shift in the electorate’s appetite for alternatives to Labour and the Conservatives. As one Green Party spokesperson put it, the party now sees itself as “a progressive voice in British politics” and a credible bulwark against the rise of Reform UK.
For Labour, the outcome could trigger a period of intense introspection and renewed debate over leadership, strategy, and the party’s relationship with its traditional base. The by-election has also highlighted the challenges facing the UK’s electoral system, from ensuring fair practices to maintaining public confidence in the results.
As the dust settles in Gorton and Denton, one thing is clear: the by-election has become more than just a contest for a single seat. It has exposed underlying tensions, tested the resilience of Britain’s democratic institutions, and perhaps, heralded the arrival of a new political force on the national stage.