Oliver Dean | 27th February 2026 | Politics, Uncategorised
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured 14,980 votes (Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images)
The Green's victory reflects a changing mindset in British politics
In the early hours of Friday morning, it was announced that Hannah Spencer, the Green Party candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, was elected to represent the constituency, with 14,980 votes.
The result represents a decisive shift away from the two-party system that has long defined British politics. Indeed, the race itself was a three-horse race between the Green Party, Reform UK and Labour. Reform UK's Matt Goodwin came second place with 10,578 votes, and Labour's Angeliki Stogia securing just 9,364 finished third.
The result is a shock to Labour, who once considered Gorton and Denton to be a safe, 'Red Wall' seat.
Following the result, many senior figures in Reform such as Goodwin himself and Nigel Farage raised the issue of family voting in predominantly Muslim areas. The claims are supported by international election observers, who allege they say "concerningly high levels" of family voting in the by-election.
Other major parties such as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats received less than 1,000 votes each.
The split in the left of centre vote and the victory of the Greens more generally reflects a growing change across the British political landscape. With local elections around the corner in May, many will view a Green victory as confirmation that lending them their support will not necessarily split the vote, as Labour often claim. Instead, it proves that the Green Party can be a political force in its own right.
This mirrors a recent report by PA firm Cavendish, who argue that, under current projections, will secure the Senedd in the Welsh elections, and claim many seats across England - putting further pressure on the incumbent Labour government.
In an interview following the results, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said that he wants to find "so many more Hannah Spencers" to stand for his party in upcoming elections. When asked if he regrets not standing himself, Mr Polanski also said that he did not, arguing that he would stand if a by election were to occur in a London seat.
It is not yet known how accurately the Gorton and Denton by-election reflects the general attitude amongst the British public. What it does prove, beyond a doubt, however, is that the idea of a 'safe seat' no longer exists. Areas and regions which Labour once considered to be their traditional homeland, are now places where they are finishing in third place....
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After his father died of a NHS failure and his mother from a late cancer diagnosis, Jon Antoniazzi has been on a determined career path to change health