The Green Party’s stunning by-election victory in Gorton and Denton has sent shockwaves through our community, sparking a mix of surprise, celebration, and sharp criticism of Labour under Sir Keir Starmer.
Many readers pointed to Labour’s misstep in blocking Andy Burnham from standing, arguing it handed the seat to the Greens and highlighted the party’s growing disconnect from the working-class voters it was founded to represent.
Commenters described the result as the dramatic consequence of Labour chasing centrist and Reform-leaning voters, leaving its traditional base feeling ignored and betrayed.
Readers also rallied behind Hannah Spencer, the plumber-turned-MP, praising her grassroots campaign and her ability to connect with ordinary voters.
The Greens’ message of unity and hope resonated strongly, with many seeing the outcome as a wake-up call to Labour: voters are hungry for a party that addresses real concerns rather than factional politics.
Some reflected on the wider political implications, with one reader saying “the battle lines have been drawn” – predicting further splintering of Labour and a growing role for both the Greens and Reform UK in future general elections. Meanwhile, the Conservatives and Lib Dems were largely dismissed as increasingly irrelevant locally.
But for many, this by-election was more than a local upset—it was a clear signal of shifting political tides.
Here’s what you had to say:
The Greens are the biggest threat to Starmer
The Greens have a strong message to give the Government – they are the biggest threat to the Starmer government, no matter what the billionaire, Russian bot and GB (not) News gaggle would like.
A northern lass against some character parachuted in by millionaires – there was only ever going to be one winner.
The Greens offer a genuine change we haven’t seen for decades, while Starmer is tootling along the same path, and Reform incredibly want to accelerate what brought the country here, fully stocked up with who brought us here as a solution.
Well done, the Green Party. They sent a very clear message out to Labour to stop listening to Farage's crowd heckles – and ignore whatever masquerades as content on GB (not) News.
What politics should and could be
Well done to the Greens and well done to the electorate of Gorton and Denton.
If this doesn't convince Labour that Starmer and his cluster of political waxworks should be loaded onto a box van and taken to the recycling centre, I don't know what will.
Have a listen to Hannah Spencer's acceptance speech for an example of what politics should – and could – be in this tired nation.
Bring on the next by-election
At 76 years old, I have been voting for a very long time, ever since I was old enough to vote. The Greens have ALWAYS been a protest vote ever since they were formed. In getting 4,000 votes more than Reform, the Greens blew not only Starmer but Farfraud out of the water. But Reform only beat Labour by 790.
I've just been watching the Greens’ acceptance speech – a tiny woman, but her competence and commitment shone through. Standing behind her at her right was the tall, defeated Reform candidate who looked down on her with disdain, constantly shifting his head from left to right. It was wonderful to view his misery.
Divisive politics roundly rejected
It is an excellent result for the Green Party and a HUGE BLOW to Reform, whose divisive politics were roundly rejected.
For Reform's utterly unsuitable candidate and his shabby party leader to claim that the result was somehow 'fixed' is beneath contempt. You lost Farage, and you will go on losing because there are more decent people in this country than bigots.
It is worth recognising, however, that just 47 per cent of the electorate in this constituency bothered to vote, which is a sad reflection of our failing first past the post-based democracy. The turnout at the last election was similarly poor, and the seat was only created in 2024, so there isn’t that much to go on here, other than people voting tactically to stop the fascists.
Starmer has signed his death warrant
Starmer has signed his death warrant by not allowing Burnham to stand. Burnham would have walked it. That decision has something to do with the Greens winning as well, together with Labour's poor show. There will be a lot of Labour MPs very angry about the Burnham decision.
Britain wants a pro-European left-of-centre party
Ever since the General Election result it has been clear Labour have been trying to appease voters from potentially swaying to the right and supporting Reform. This is the consequence.
They have lost the large base of their support to the Green Party. Rather than shifting to the right, Labour need to act like the left-wing party people voted for. After 11 years of Tories, Britain voted for a change of course. What we have got has been a continuation of Tory policies. No one voted for Labour for this. Britain doesn't want Reform. Britain wants a pro-European, left-of-centre party that unites the country rather than divides it. If Labour can't be that party, then Britain will find another party that can.
A catastrophe for the Conservatives too
Labour lost the seat, but they're not the only party for which this is a catastrophe.
The Conservative vote has declined to a quarter of what it was in two years, since it was considered by many to be at the height of its unpopularity, and at the same time the Reform UK vote has doubled.
Before that, the constituency didn't exist – it was created in 2024.
The Conservatives have clearly been given up on as the main opposition to Labour. This is therefore arguably just as much, or even more, of a catastrophe for them as for Labour.
The Lib Dems came in after the Conservatives, followed by Sir Oink A-Lot. Oh dear. So much for rejoining the EU as the perfect solution for Labour's travails.
Your Party didn't even stand, which is a shame. It would have been interesting to see whether they have any popular support at all.
Our nation needs more tradesmen and tradeswomen
Perhaps the moral of this is our nation needs more tradesmen and tradeswomen, especially plumbers, rather than career politicians, dodgy commodity traders, or privately educated people on the make who have never really worked in their lives.
Insight into the next election
I guess this gives some insight into the next election. Labour will split further, and its only hope of power will be an alliance with the Greens. Expect more spending, pronouns and virtue signalling on international issues. Their experience of working with Labour will lead the Greens to become an openly sectarian and Islamist party.
For the right, Reform will not be encouraged, but could end up being the largest single party, albeit without an absolute majority – without power and with very little influence. The Tories will become like the Liberals of a bygone era, with only the ideologues left and none of the pragmatists. The Lib Dems will be obliterated.
Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.
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