Gorton And Denton By-election sees polls open in Greater Manchester as voting-system debate intensifies
The gorton and denton by-election opened for voters across parts of Greater Manchester, with polling stations scheduled to run from 07: 00 GMT to 22: 00 GMT — 2: 00 a. m. ET to 5: 00 p. m. ET — and the result expected to be declared in the early hours of Friday morning.
Gorton And Denton By-election: polls open across Greater Manchester
Polling stations opened at 07: 00 GMT on the day the seat was contested, with polls closing at 22: 00 GMT to decide who becomes the new MP for the constituency. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of now former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne on 22 January on the grounds of ill health; the contest was scheduled for Thursday 26 February. Officials say the results of the by-election are set to be declared overnight and on Friday.
Why the contest has become a three-way race
Campaigners and commentators have described the contest as a three-way race, with Labour, Reform UK and the Green Party all in contention. One writer called the by-election "nail-biting, " saying it has shown cracks in First Past The Post while also noting they remain unconvinced that proportional representation is the answer. That account named Matt Goodwin as a focal point for voters chiefly motivated to keep Reform out of Manchester.
Electoral system debate heats up: tactical voting and FPTP criticism
Groups arguing for electoral change have pointed to the gorton and denton by-election as an example of First Past The Post struggling where three or more parties are competitive. The Electoral Reform Society called the 2024 UK general election the most disproportional ever, saying Labour won almost two-thirds of MPs from just over one-third of votes and warning that FPTP can allow candidates to be elected with fewer than a third of local votes. That organisation said Labour and the Green Party have been urging voters they are the best option to "stop Reform, " a dynamic it says forces tactical choice over policy debate.
One commentator flagged a YouGov model published last autumn that showed Reform could in theory win 48% of the seats at Westminster on as little as 27% of the vote, a statistic used to underline concerns that FPTP can deliver outcomes far from overall vote shares. The same commentator wrote that the process of second-guessing other voters — and risking making things worse by miscalculation — did not feel like democracy at its finest.
Alternatives and comparisons: Single Transferable Vote in Scotland
Proportional and preferential systems were referenced directly: Scottish local elections use Single Transferable Vote, where voters number candidates and ballots can be transferred if a first choice has no chance or no candidate reaches a majority. The description noted that transfers continue until someone wins a majority, and that this method lets voters put their genuine first choice without being forced into tactical judgements.
Local notes, candidates list and ongoing claims
The published alphabetical list of candidates in this contest included Sir Oink A-Lot of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Sebastian Moore of the Social Democratic Party. Claims of family voting have emerged in connection with the contest, and a by-election boss has hit back at those claims; further detail on those allegations is unclear in the provided context.
Short local items linked to wider coverage included: police called to the site of an unauthorised traveller caravan camp in Warrington; Cheshire East’s leader and deputy remaining in post after surviving a vote of no-confidence; residents' dismay over a so-called "cruise ship" warehouse; and questions about barriers around a popular restaurant in Warrington. Nationally notable headlines mentioned a public statement that Hillary Clinton "wants to see truth come out" after finishing Epstein testimony and a piece on how Ghislaine Maxwell brought Bill Clinton into Epstein's orbit.
Readers were invited to suggest stories for coverage in Greater Manchester and to follow Radio Manchester on Facebook, X and Instagram; the context also provided a WhatsApp number for sending story ideas: 0808 100 2230.
Counting and declaration remain the immediate focus: votes cast during the 07: 00–22: 00 GMT window will be tallied overnight, with officials expecting to declare the result in the early hours of Friday morning.
