Green Party won Gorton and Denton by-election, previously safe Labour seat
Labour finished third behind Reform UK in second place
Result represents significant blow to Starmer's leadership
Defeat follows challenging start to 2026 for Labour government
By-election suggests shifting political loyalties in traditional Labour areas
📖 Full Retelling
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure after the Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election in south-east Manchester on February 27, 2026, with Labour finishing in third place behind Reform UK in a significant political upset in what was previously considered a safe Labour seat. The left-wing Greens comfortably secured the victory, marking a dramatic shift in political representation for a constituency that had been held by Labour for decades. This defeat represents a major blow to Starmer's leadership, coming during what has already been a challenging start to 2026 for his government. The result will undoubtedly intensify speculation over his ability to maintain party unity and present a compelling vision to the British public, particularly as traditional Labour strongholds appear increasingly vulnerable to alternative political forces.
🏷️ Themes
Political Leadership, Election Results, Party Realignment
Right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom
Reform UK, often known simply as Reform, is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. It has eight members of Parliament in the House of Commons, two members of the London Assembly, one member of the Senedd, one member of the Scottish Parliament, one police and crime commissioner,...
Manchester is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of over 589,000 in 2024. It borders the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the city of Salford to the west.
# Sir Keir Starmer
**Sir Keir Rodney Starmer** (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has served as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and has been the Member of Parliament (MP) ...
Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on x (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on facebook (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on linkedin (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on x (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on facebook (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on linkedin (opens in a new window) Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Edited by Maxine Kelly and Philip Georgiadis Jump to comments section Print this page Editor's pick 2/27/2026, 5:05:09 AM FT Reporters Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election Sir Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure after the Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election, with Labour in third place behind Reform UK in second. The leftwing Greens comfortably won the key parliamentary by-election in south-east Manchester, in a previously safe Labour seat. Labour’s defeat is likely to weaken the prime minister further, following a bruising start to the year and speculation over his leadership. Expand post Collapse post Share $ Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on X (opens in a new window) Share $ Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share $ Starmer under pressure after Greens win Gorton and Denton by-election on LinkedIn (opens in a new window)
