Starmer Vows to ‘Keep Fighting’ After Historic Green By-Election Shock

Starmer Vows to ‘Keep Fighting’ After Historic Green By-Election Shock

Labour Slumps to Third in Former Stronghold

Keir Starmer has pledged to “keep on fighting” after Labour slumped to third place in the Gorton and Denton by-election, losing the seat to the Green Party of England and Wales in a historic upset.

Reform UK finished second, pushing Labour into an unprecedented third-place finish in a constituency the party had held for nearly a century.

The result marks the Greens’ first ever parliamentary by-election victory, with 34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer becoming the party’s first MP in the north of England.

Leadership Pressure Intensifies

The defeat piles fresh pressure on Starmer ahead of key May elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils, widely viewed as a major test of his premiership.

In a letter to Labour MPs, Starmer accused the Greens of pursuing “divisive, sectarian” politics and insisted their victory would not be easily replicated at a general election. He described their platform as “extreme” and said the party lacked the infrastructure to build sustained national support.

But his comments drew a sharp response from Green co-leader Zack Polanski, who accused the prime minister of attempting to smear voters.

Rayner Calls Result a ‘Wake-Up Call’

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the loss must serve as a “wake-up call” and urged the government to be “braver” in its approach.

Some Labour figures privately blamed Starmer’s decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the seat, arguing his candidacy might have prevented defeat.

While several backbench MPs publicly criticised Starmer’s leadership, others cautioned against a knee-jerk leadership contest, warning it could deepen divisions without offering a clear alternative.

Greens Claim Broader Momentum

Spencer, now the Greens’ fifth MP in Westminster, rejected accusations of sectarian campaigning and said her party had united voters around shared concerns including the cost of living, public services and Gaza.

She declared the win “just the beginning,” predicting further gains in upcoming local and devolved elections.

Under Polanski’s leadership, the Greens have sharpened a left-wing economic message alongside environmental priorities, backing policies such as rent controls, expanded free school meals and a new wealth tax on assets over £10 million.

Voting Row Adds to Controversy

The by-election was also overshadowed by claims from Democracy Volunteers that it observed an “extremely high” number of alleged ‘family voting’ incidents — where voters are influenced inside polling booths, a criminal offence.

The group reported 32 cases among 545 voters it monitored. The Electoral Commission said it would carefully consider the findings, while Reform UK called for a police investigation.

Despite the turmoil, Starmer insisted he would not step aside, framing the defeat as a difficult mid-term moment rather than a fatal blow to his leadership.

SOURCE: BBC