In a surprising turn of events, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has lost a seat it held for nearly 100 years, marking one of the most dramatic political moments of his leadership so far.
The traditionally safe Labour constituency of Gorton and Denton, located in Greater Manchester, saw voters turn away from the party in a result that reflects how much British politics is shifting. The Green Party’s Hannah Spencer won the seat, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party securing second place. Labour, unexpectedly, came in third.
Labour Party chair Anna Turley admitted the outcome was “clearly disappointing,” and the loss adds pressure on Starmer, who had personally invested political capital in winning here. He even blocked a challenge from popular local figure Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and made a rare campaign visit to the area — moves usually avoided unless victory seems certain.
The by‑election was triggered when the previous MP stepped down due to health reasons. At the last general election in 2024, Labour had captured just over half of votes in this area, but today saw the Green Party surge ahead with 40.7%, followed by Reform at 28.7% and Labour at 25.4%.
This result follows a challenging period for Starmer, including criticism from his own MPs over controversial decisions like appointing veteran Labour politician Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington — a move that drew significant scrutiny.
For the Greens, this win is historic: it’s their first single seat victory in the north of England and increases their presence in the UK Parliament. The result also highlights a larger trend — traditional voter allegiances are weakening, and smaller or insurgent parties are gaining traction across the country.
Political analyst John Curtice described the outcome as a “very poor result” for Labour, and believes it shows British politics may be more unpredictable than it has been in decades. With five parties now regularly polling double digits, longstanding dominance by just Labour and the Conservatives appears to be waning.
Looking ahead, Labour faces important local and regional elections in May. If current trends continue, the party could face further challenges, not just from Reform UK — which has led opinion polls for months — but from a range of new and growing political movements energizing voters across Britain.
