Polls open in Gorton and Denton by-election that could decide Starmer’s future

Politics
26 Feb 2026 • 3:28 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A crucial by-election is underway in Gorton and Denton, serving as a significant test for Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
  • The contest is predicted to be a tight three-way race between Labour's Angeliki Stogia, Reform UK's Matt Goodwin, and the Green Party's Hannah Spencer.
  • Sir Keir Starmer urged voters to back Labour, framing the election as a choice between his party and Reform UK, criticising Reform's "toxic politics."
  • The Green Party has positioned itself as the primary option for anti-Reform voters, with candidate Hannah Spencer vowing to "run the far right out of Manchester."
  • Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited the constituency, encouraging voters to support his party, while Reform also suspended an interim campaign manager over alleged inappropriate social media remarks.