News

Original reporting and the latest political headlines from across the UK.

Our Articles

Mainstream Headlines

Filtering by:Tag: environment×Source: The Guardian Politics×Clear all

69 headlines found — Page 5 of 6

The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Greens win Gorton and Denton: is this a turning point for UK politics? – The Latest

The Green Party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gordon and Denton byelection in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England, with Labour pushed into third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK despite having a 13,000-vote majority. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England correspondent Hannah Al-Othman, who lives in the constituency and was at the count overnight – watch on YouTube Continue reading..

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

No more safe seats: the Greens take Gorton and Denton – podcast

In a stunning setback for Labour, the Green party has decisively won the Gorton and Denton byelection, with Reform UK finishing second. Does this result signal the end of Labour’s safe seats? And could it mark the beginning of the end for Keir Starmer? John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey unpack the fallout – and explore what might happen next Continue reading...

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Spencer’s victory speech an object lesson in grace while Reform’s man rages | John Crace

Matt Goodwin claimed cheating, Labour’s Gorton candidate quickly fled, Keir was tin-eared and Kemi brought the comedy It could have been a flash of arrogance. Hubris for the ages. On Thursday morning, at a time when most pundits were still calling the Gorton and Denton byelection a three-way fight that was impossible to call, the Green party sent out a note to journalists. Come along to the first press conference of Hannah Spencer MP tomorrow. And while you’re about it, stay on to join her for h

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Making a statement, Hannah Spencer’s ‘gross green’ is a political and TikTok winner

Green party’s victorious Gorton and Denton byelection candidate taps into the colour meme of the moment with her chartreuse waistcoat UK politics live – latest updates Of course the Green candidate wore green, though the correct term – the 2026 TikTok one – is “gross green”. Coined by New York magazine, and seen all over the high street as well as on the cover of Caro Claire Burke’s forthcoming satirical novel Yesteryear, it’s actually chartreuse. But where’s the fun in calling it that? And it

PoliticsEnvironment
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

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
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

PoliticsEnvironment
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

PoliticsEconomyEnvironment
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

PoliticsEconomyEnvironment
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

PoliticsEducationEnvironment
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...

PoliticsEnvironment
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

PoliticsEnvironment
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...

PoliticsEnvironmentReform