Greens Make History with Stunning Byelection Victory in Gorton and Denton
In a remarkable political upset, the Green party has secured its first-ever byelection victory, with Hannah Spencer winning the Gorton and Denton seat in a decisive triumph. The Greens captured 40% of the vote, leaving Reform UK trailing far behind in second place with 28%, while Labour suffered a humiliating third-place finish at just 25%. This result shatters the notion that Labour is the sole progressive force capable of challenging Reform on the left.
A Working-Class Champion's Graceful Acceptance
Hannah Spencer's acceptance speech was a masterclass in humility and connection. The newly elected MP, who described herself as a plumber recently qualified as a plasterer, spoke passionately about her working-class roots in the constituency. "I've never considered myself a politician," she admitted, noting that if her parliamentary career doesn't pan out, she could always find work fixing Westminster's notoriously dilapidated facilities.
Spencer emphasized her understanding of the cost of living crisis and celebrated the multicultural community that she believes defeated what she called "the toxic politics of the right." Her speech, delivered with remarkable grace despite minimal sleep, stood in stark contrast to the reactions from her defeated opponents.
Reform's Fury and Labour's Despair
Reform candidate Matt Goodwin appeared visibly furious at the result, having apparently believed victory was his divine right. Goodwin responded to the defeat by accusing the Greens of sectarianism and cheating—charges that Reform itself has frequently faced. His controversial comments about race and gender during the campaign had alienated significant portions of the diverse constituency.
Meanwhile, Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia looked shell-shocked by the humiliation of finishing third. She had been selected through a process critics claim was rigged by Keir Starmer to prevent Andy Burnham from standing. Within seconds of the announcement, Stogia fled the scene, leaving Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to face the media fallout the next morning.
Leadership Failures and Political Comedy
Heidi Alexander's media performance proved equally disastrous when she defended Starmer's decision to block Burnham, arguing it was more important to have a candidate who posed no threat to Starmer's leadership than one who might actually win the seat. When accused by Nick Robinson of simply reading briefing notes, Alexander protested too much, ultimately suggesting Labour needed to "tell a better story" without specifying who would tell it.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a brief appearance, dismissing the defeat as a temporary setback and bizarrely attempting to portray Spencer as an extremist—a characterization that failed to resonate given her down-to-earth presentation at a press conference with Green leader Zack Polanski.
The evening's comic relief came from Conservative figure Kemi Badenoch, who claimed the Tories were still on course to win the next election despite securing a mere 1% of the vote in the constituency. The assertion might have drawn laughter even from the devastated Labour camp.
A New Political Landscape
This historic victory represents more than just a seat change—it signals a potential realignment in British politics. The Greens have demonstrated they can win traditionally Labour areas, while Reform's second-place finish confirms their growing threat to established parties. For Labour, the result raises serious questions about leadership, strategy, and connection with working-class voters.
As Hannah Spencer prepares to be sworn in on Monday, possibly with her hard hat in tow, the political establishment is left to ponder how a plumber and plasterer from the constituency managed to achieve what seasoned politicians could not: a genuine connection with voters tired of business as usual.
