Overview
- The Greens’ Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election, with Reform UK second and Labour third in a seat long dominated by Labour in earlier forms.
- Labour’s National Executive Committee blocked Andy Burnham from seeking the nomination, though he campaigned alongside Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia.
- Burnham said the result showed a gulf between voters and Westminster and called polling on unending cost‑of‑living pressures “code red for Westminster politics.”
- He argued Westminster’s culture holds back northern ambitions and urged systemic reform with wider, faster devolution across the UK.
- He kept open the prospect of a future Westminster return by saying “Head South” is on hold and urged parties that value collaboration to work together against divisive politics and the rise of Reform UK.