The Green Party achieved its first parliamentary by-election success in Gorton and Denton, while Labour dropped to third place and election observers reported high levels of family voting
Hannah Spencer of the Green Party has pulled off a surprise victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, marking the Greens’ first-ever win in a UK parliamentary by-election. The upset, declared at the Manchester Central count, reshaped expectations in what had been forecast as a three-way contest between Labour, Reform UK and the Greens.
What happened
– Counting finished with Spencer ahead of the field, unseating a seat long held by Labour after Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons. Labour’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia, finished behind the winner and several challengers despite a major ground operation that included more than a thousand canvassers.
– Turnout was 47.6%, almost identical to the 47.8% recorded at the previous general election in the constituency. Parties are still waiting for the returning officer to publish the full ward-level breakdown and certified tallies.
Campaign dynamics
The campaign tightened in the run-up to polling day, with the Greens focusing targeted resources on key wards and national figures such as Zack Polanski appearing on the ground.
Reform UK emerged early as a strong challenger in projections but local counts altered those expectations and produced an unusual vote distribution. Labour insiders had voiced optimism before the count, but now face questions about whether strategy and messaging missed local shifts in voter sentiment.
Concerns about voting practice
The result has been clouded by serious allegations about voting integrity. Democracy Volunteers reported observing “family voting” at 68% of the polling stations its teams monitored — a markedly high figure for a by-election. The group described the practice as illegal and problematic; their findings prompted immediate calls for further scrutiny from Labour and Reform UK, and support from the Greens for a formal probe.
Official responses and next steps
Manchester City Council pushed back on some aspects of the monitoring group’s timing and said no electoral issues had been reported to council staff during polling. Police confirmed that no major disturbances were recorded at the count, and said any formal complaints should follow the statutory processes for election disputes. Electoral authorities have not validated Democracy Volunteers’ methodology; they are preparing certified numbers for independent review, and will consider whether the allegations merit a formal investigation.
Reactions and implications
The Greens hailed the win as a “seismic moment” for progressive politics and proof that they can convert local momentum into parliamentary representation. Labour described the loss as a significant setback and will face intensified scrutiny of leadership decisions and internal organisation. Analysts warn the result complicates simple narratives about party momentum and could influence candidate selection, messaging and resource allocation ahead of forthcoming contests.
What to watch
Parties and analysts are awaiting the released ward-level figures to map vote transfers and demographic trends more precisely. Whether electoral authorities open a formal inquiry into the family-voting claims will also shape the post‑count conversation. For now, Gorton and Denton has a new MP in Hannah Spencer, and the outcome has already forced national parties to rethink elements of their urban and local campaigning.
