Greens Select Former Mayoral Candidate for Key Manchester Byelection
The Green Party has officially selected former Manchester mayoral candidate Hannah Spencer to contest the forthcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary byelection. Spencer, who serves as a Trafford councillor and works as a plumber, brings both local political experience and a distinctive professional background to the campaign.
Democratic Selection Process and Candidate Background
Her nomination was formally announced on Friday in Longsight, following a democratic selection process conducted by local party members through online hustings held the previous evening. Spencer is understood to have secured a substantial majority of votes, triumphing over other contenders including Fesl Reza-Khan, who previously contested the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat in the 2024 general election, and Sarah Wakefield, a local campaigner and former general secretary of the Manchester University student union.
Spencer has personal connections to the constituency, having resided there in the past, and recently stood as the Green Party's candidate for mayor of Manchester in the 2024 election. In that contest, she finished fifth behind Labour's Andy Burnham, who successfully retained his position, along with Conservative, independent, and Reform candidates.
Potential Historic Significance of Byelection Result
Should Spencer emerge victorious in the byelection, she would become the Green Party's fifth sitting MP and their first ever representative from northern England. At 34 years old, she would also be the youngest MP in the party's parliamentary history, marking a significant milestone for the Greens as they seek to expand their political footprint beyond traditional southern strongholds.
Competitive Landscape and Party Positioning
With this announcement, the Greens become the second party to declare their candidate for the constituency, following Reform UK's selection of conservative commentator and former academic Matt Goodwin on 27 January. Labour is scheduled to announce their candidate on Saturday, with their widely-publicised blocking of Andy Burnham's candidacy creating a political vacuum that many observers believe positions the Greens and Reform as the two frontrunners in the contest.
Green Party co-deputy leader Mothin Ali, who serves on Leeds City Council, was initially expected to run but ultimately decided against it. Party leader Zack Polanski, who hails from Greater Manchester, was also considered a potential candidate but ruled himself out, instead expressing interest in contesting a future parliamentary seat in London where he now resides.
Campaign Launch and Strategic Alliances
Polanski officially launched the party's campaign on Tuesday night, framing the contest as a "battle for the soul of our nation" and expressing confidence about the Greens' prospects. He told reporters after a campaign rally that "even if it was Andy Burnham who was running, I think we still would have won," indicating the party's bullish outlook on their chances in the constituency.
The campaign launch featured guest speakers including former party leader Natalie Bennett and Your Party member and campaigner Salma Yaqoob, though Polanski has sought to downplay suggestions of a formal alliance between the Greens and Your Party.
Endorsements and Community Engagement
The Greens have secured the campaign's first significant endorsement from pressure group The Muslim Vote, which has thrown its support behind the party in protest over other political parties' stances regarding the violence in Gaza. This endorsement could prove strategically important in attracting Muslim voters, who constitute approximately 30% of the constituency's population.
However, some sources close to the campaign have suggested the endorsement was initially made with the assumption that either Mothin Ali or Fesl Reza-Khan, both practising Muslims, would secure the nomination. These same sources indicate it is unlikely the endorsement will be withdrawn despite Spencer's selection, suggesting continued support for the Green Party's broader platform and positions.
Political Context and Constituency Background
The Gorton and Denton seat became available following the resignation of Andrew Gwynne due to ill health, creating an unexpected political opportunity in a constituency that the Greens believe represents fertile ground for their progressive policies and community-focused approach to politics.
As the campaign develops, all eyes will be on this Manchester constituency to see whether the Green Party can translate their growing national profile into a significant parliamentary breakthrough in northern England, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of the next general election.
