Gorton and Denton was a disaster for Labour – can Starmer find a way back?
Gorton and Denton was a disaster for Labour – can Starmer find a way back?
The Green Party’s first by-election victory, their inaugural representative in the northern region, and the emergence of their new leader Zack Polanski as a key figure—these developments marked the first significant electoral test for the fledgling green movement. It’s a moment that demands attention, and rightly so.
The Unseen Shadow of a Missed Opportunity
Unsurprisingly, the new Green MP Hannah Spencer evokes comparisons to Andy Burnham. Her conversational tone, connection to local roots, and emphasis on her trade job mirror Burnham’s style. Labour, in fact, might feel a twinge of envy at the parallels.
Labour’s fate might have been different had Andy Burnham not been sidelined by Keir Starmer. The current MP, Hannah Spencer, now enters Parliament as a constant reminder of this pivotal decision. She symbolizes the alternative path the party could have taken, one that was denied by Starmer’s leadership.
Make no mistake—this outcome represents a significant blow for Labour. The party had held the Gorton and Denton seat with a margin exceeding 50% in the last general election, making it their 38th most secure constituency. Yet, in just a few days, that stability crumbled.
Greens Overtake Labour in a Surprising Poll Shift
Reform UK’s influence, once seen as the primary threat, was eclipsed by the Greens. The party’s defeat came not at the hands of right-wing opponents, but from the left—votes drifting toward Zack Polanski and the Green agenda.
The Labour campaign’s messaging was fragmented. While they framed themselves as the counter to extremism, the reality was that Reform UK wasn’t the main challenger. Instead, the Greens captured the momentum, highlighting a core issue: Labour’s ability to rally their base.
Starmer’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
The by-election’s result adds to Starmer’s growing record of setbacks. With two losses in a row—first to Reform UK in Runcorn and now to the Greens—he faces mounting pressure to reassess his approach. The challenge isn’t just the outcome, but the alignment of the defeat with progressive values.
Labour’s internal anxieties are being fueled by this loss. The party’s campaign, which emphasized opposition to far-right forces, didn’t resonate with voters. Instead, the Greens tapped into concerns over Gaza, immigration, and the cost of living—issues that critics argue Starmer’s policies have undermined.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Labour MPs expressed worry about Starmer’s alignment with Donald Trump and his strict measures on migration. His “island of strangers” speech and cost-of-living promises, delivered amid rising prices, raised questions about the party’s direction.
“This has got to be the end of the ‘punch left’ strategy,” said a Cabinet insider.
Now, with the Greens seizing a key seat, the party’s leadership is being questioned. Will Starmer pivot to align more closely with traditional Labour values? The implications are profound. A shift could mean embracing higher borrowing, relaxing immigration controls, or adopting a more flexible stance on the EU.
Yet, such a change risks alienating middle England. As some party members suggest, adjusting policy to appeal to the left might come at a steep cost. The question remains: can Starmer steer Labour back from the brink, or has the party’s direction already been set?
