A by-election in Greater Manchester's Gorton and Denton constituency has become a test of Labour's grip on heartland voters, as internal rifts within the party and growing support for smaller parties challenge its dominance.
The contest, set to take place on February 26, has seen eleven candidates vying for the seat left vacant by long-serving MP Andrew Gwynne's resignation. The field includes a mix of well-established names from major parties, such as Charlotte Cadden from the Conservative Party and Matt Goodwin from Reform UK, alongside smaller parties like the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Communist League.
However, Labour faces a battle in this traditionally Labour stronghold, with growing voter dissatisfaction and internal friction threatening its hold on the constituency. A high-profile dispute over the selection of Labour's new candidate – local councillor Angeliki Stogia – has dominated the lead-up to the vote, with some critics expressing frustration at the party's handling of local issues.
Despite this, Labour remains a strong force in Gorton and Denton, with loyal supporters pointing to its commitment on key issues like refugee support and asylum. However, not all residents share this view, with some citing declining local services as a major concern.
The Green Party has positioned itself as an alternative to Labour's left flank, while the far-right Reform UK is vying for support by positioning itself as the anti-system voice – tough on immigration and crime, and openly hostile to what it calls a broken political class.
According to Sonia Gallego, reporting from Gorton and Denton, every single vote will count in this tight contest. The by-election has become a struggle for who gets to channel the frustrations of residents like Carl Morris, who feels Labour has done nothing to address the problems he's seen in his 28-year career as a Denton resident.
"It is a struggle for who gets to channel the frustrations felt here and where it goes next," Gallego said. As the country watches, the outcome of this by-election will provide insight into whether Labour can maintain its hold on heartland voters or if smaller parties are poised to capitalize on growing discontent.
The contest, set to take place on February 26, has seen eleven candidates vying for the seat left vacant by long-serving MP Andrew Gwynne's resignation. The field includes a mix of well-established names from major parties, such as Charlotte Cadden from the Conservative Party and Matt Goodwin from Reform UK, alongside smaller parties like the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Communist League.
However, Labour faces a battle in this traditionally Labour stronghold, with growing voter dissatisfaction and internal friction threatening its hold on the constituency. A high-profile dispute over the selection of Labour's new candidate – local councillor Angeliki Stogia – has dominated the lead-up to the vote, with some critics expressing frustration at the party's handling of local issues.
Despite this, Labour remains a strong force in Gorton and Denton, with loyal supporters pointing to its commitment on key issues like refugee support and asylum. However, not all residents share this view, with some citing declining local services as a major concern.
The Green Party has positioned itself as an alternative to Labour's left flank, while the far-right Reform UK is vying for support by positioning itself as the anti-system voice – tough on immigration and crime, and openly hostile to what it calls a broken political class.
According to Sonia Gallego, reporting from Gorton and Denton, every single vote will count in this tight contest. The by-election has become a struggle for who gets to channel the frustrations of residents like Carl Morris, who feels Labour has done nothing to address the problems he's seen in his 28-year career as a Denton resident.
"It is a struggle for who gets to channel the frustrations felt here and where it goes next," Gallego said. As the country watches, the outcome of this by-election will provide insight into whether Labour can maintain its hold on heartland voters or if smaller parties are poised to capitalize on growing discontent.
I'm telling you, there's something fishy about how the Green Party is positioning itself as an alternative to Labour's left flank. It's like they're trying to siphon off those who are already feeling disillusioned with Labour, but what's their real agenda? 
They seem too perfect, too polished... I mean, have you seen their manifestos? 
Too good to be true. And don't even get me started on Reform UK – that far-right stuff is just a distraction from the real issues. The government's just using them as a pawn in their game of divide and conquer. 
Meanwhile, Labour is too busy infighting to address the real concerns of its constituents... it's like they're playing right into our hands 
. This by-election is going to be a bellwether for something bigger, mark my words! 
. It feels like they're just a distraction from the real issues at hand. I mean, who really cares about some random MP slot in Gorton and Denton? The thing that should be getting attention is how Labour's internal conflicts are affecting the whole party 
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. The Greens are trying to tap into that by positioning themselves as an alternative, but I'm not sure if people are ready for that yet 
. Reform UK is definitely going to make it interesting with their anti-system vibe, though 
. What's weird is that some people are actually expecting this shift in power 
. It'll be a big test for Labour to see if they can adapt and connect with voters on a local level 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out! 
- they've been down this road before and it doesn't end well for them 
. According to data, only 35% of voters consider the current selection process a success 
. Meanwhile, the Green Party has seen a 30% surge in support since last year's election 
- could they be the ones to take advantage of Labour's internal strife? 
. It's like they're testing how strong Labour is, but what if it fails? 
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. We need someone who's willing to challenge the status quo and bring about real change 
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. The Green Party is definitely trying to capitalize on that by positioning itself as an alternative to Labour's left wing 
. I'm curious to see if the party can get its act together and channel the frustrations of people like Carl Morris 
, who's been feeling neglected by Labour despite being a loyal supporter for 28 years 
. Will it be a nail-biter on February 26? 
Only time will tell! 
. Labour's been holding onto that constituency for ages, but now they're facing some serious heat from internal strife and smaller party challengers. I mean, who wouldn't want to vote against a system that's all about the establishment, right? 
Reform UK is like the "us vs them" guys, playing on people's frustrations with immigration and crime... it's like they're speaking straight to Carl Morris' soul 
. On one hand, you've got the stalwart Labour Party fighting for its traditional strongholds, but internal disagreements and some voters feeling disenfranchised are throwing a wrench into their plans 
. Meanwhile, smaller parties like the Green Party and Reform UK are sniffing around for opportunities to upset the status quo 
. I'm keeping an eye on how the Green Party's centrist message plays out – could they be the game-changers here 
i've been chatting with some locals and they're literally at their wit's end with the state of local services 
remember that time david Brent tried to shake things up in slough? same vibes here, labour's trying to rebrand but it's not sitting well with voters who are fed up with the status quo 
reform uk's anti-system rhetoric is straight out of a british politics drama 
They've been doing their thing for ages, right? Anyway, I'm a bit worried about this internal rift within the party - can't they just get along? 
. I hope whoever wins the by-election actually listens to people's concerns and makes a difference. But, you know, it's hard to predict what will happen - every vote does count, right? 
. The Green Party might have a chance, but let's see how far their "alternative" vibe takes them 
. Every vote counts, Sonia said - and I'm sure every resident in Gorton and Denton is gonna make their voice heard 
, don't get me wrong labour's got a good track record on refugee support etc but if they can't even sort out the basics...not sure what's gonna happen 
. And what's with the Reform UK guy being all anti-system? isn't that just a fancy way of saying "I don't know how to fix things, so I'll blame everyone else"? 