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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Five key takeaways from the Gorton and Denton byelection

The night saw a big win for the Greens, disappointment for Reform and landmark losses for Labour and the Tories The Greens have pulled off a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection in a significant blow to Labour and the leadership of Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority, while Reform UK finished second and Labour came third in the tightly cont

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

‘We defeated the parties of billionaire donors’: Hannah Spencer’s victory speech

‘We don’t have to fight dirty to fight for change,’ said Green party’s new MP after Gorton and Denton byelection win UK politics live – latest updates Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, has been elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Here is her victory speech: I didn’t grow up wanting to be a politician. I’m a plumber. And two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

I saw how the Greens channelled voters’ anger – and fused it with hope. That’s why they won in Gorton and Denton | Owen Jones

Starmer called the byelection a battle for the nation’s soul. This result shows Labour has lost that – and I think it will lose much more It wasn’t even close. The scale of victory of the Green party’s Hannah Spencer in Gorton and Denton changes everything. For years, British politics has oscillated between snuffing out hope and stoking fear. The main parties converged around an economic model that irretrievably broke in the crash of 2008, then encouraged understandably furious voters to blame f

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Green win shows progressive voters are now voting against Labour as well as Reform

Gorton and Denton byelection shatters Labour strategy of neglecting its core base while focusing on Reform defectors UK politics live – latest updates The Gorton and Denton byelection produced Labour’s most feared outcome – the Greens winning and potential displacing Labour as the choice of anti-Reform voters. This risk was signposted for months. It is just the latest of the unintended consequences produced by this government: first, a manifesto commitment to not raise taxes that has led to co

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Hannah Spencer: the Green MP speaking to everyday people’s frustrations

Winner of Gorton and Denton byelection was driven into politics by growing gap between super-rich and ‘rest of us’ UK politics live – latest updates Above the college workbench where Hannah Spencer has been training to be a plasterer, her fellow students recently added a sign: “Ministry of Plastering and Plumbing – Hannah Spencer MP”. Four weeks ago, the title might have felt faintly ridiculous to a 34-year-old plumber who only entered politics in 2023. Now, it is very real after Spencer was e

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

What does the Greens’ victory in Gorton and Denton mean for the future of British politics? Our panel responds

Greens first, Reform second, Labour trailing – and the Tories losing their deposit. This felt like a rejection of the status quo Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Celebrations, selfies and crowdsurfing: Greens relish seismic night in British politics

Optimism and quiet confidence gave way to jubilation with party’s historic victory in Gorton and Denton byelection UK politics live – latest updates When the result dropped soon after, it would be obvious that this was an historic moment for the Greens – toppling one of Labour’s largest majorities, and claiming their first ever parliamentary seat north of Herefordshire by winning the Gorton and Denton byelection. But very early on Friday morning at the count in the Manchester Central Conventi

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Labour’s worst fears realised by Greens’ victory in Gorton and Denton byelection

Result gives progressive voters clear signal they have an alternative to beating Reform UK – and shows the task ahead for Keir Starmer UK politics live – latest updates Labour MPs have said for weeks that the outcome they most feared at the Gorton and Denton byelection was a Green party victory. On Friday morning, their worst fears were realised. Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Dirty Business, The Lady, Mandelson’s arrest – are they truth, ‘faction’ or just more drama? | Simon Jenkins

The latest rush of docudramas seems to suggest that anyone in the public eye must expect a degree of intrusion. But where does that end? Was that really Peter Mandelson getting into a police car on Monday? Was it really the same Mandelson who had supposedly been about to flee to the British Virgin Islands, the man called “a traitor” to his country and the buddy of a sex trafficker of girls? Was he really to be questioned for nine hours by the police over “misconduct in public office”, an offence

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection in blow to Keir Starmer

Hannah Spencer elected as party’s first MP in northern England, with Labour coming in third behind reform UK The Green party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection in a significant blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority. Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Counting underway in Gorton and Denton amid high turnout for crucial byelection – UK politics live

Turnout in Gorton and Denton byelection over 47%, with 36,903 verified votes cast as Greens, Reform and Labour contest the seat Labour sources have told the Press Association: “Early signs at the count indicate the Greens have been able to turn out support in a way they wouldn’t be able to replicate at a general election.” Prof Will Jennings, of the University of Southampton, earlier said the contest was too close to call and that in Britain’s new fragmented politics “anything can happen”. He sa

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The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

Election observers raise concerns over secret ballot breaches at Gorton and Denton byelection

Democracy Volunteers say they saw 32 cases of apparent collusion – the highest levels in its 10-year history An election observer group has raised concerns over people appearing to collude on voting in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Democracy Volunteers, an organisation founded by Dr John Ault, and supported by Conservative peer and psephologist Prof Robert Haywood, deployed four accredited election observers across the constituency. Continue reading...

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