Green Party: green party wins Gorton and Denton by-election

The green party have won the Gorton and Denton by-election, with Reform second and Labour third. Sir Keir Starmer called the result 'very disappointing' as Nigel Farage said he had reported cases of 'family voting' to the police, who say they have received a complaint.

Green Party win explained

The Green Party topped the poll in Gorton and Denton, marking what commentators described as the party's first by-election success at Westminster. A Green Party spokesman said: "The scale of our victory shows that the Green Party has picked up substantial support in all parts of the constituency, in all areas, among all people. It was a victory for unity over division, for hope over hate. Our message to lower bills, protect the NHS and public services and for peace and human rights was a message which resonated here, to all voters in this by-election. "

Vote shares and rankings

The Greens won with 40% of the vote. Reform came second on 28% and Labour placed third on 25%. The result prompted Sir Keir Starmer to call the outcome "very disappointing. "

Allegations of family voting raised

Nigel Farage said his Reform UK party had made a report to the police, as well as to the Electoral Commission, about what he described as cases of "family voting. " Greater Manchester Police confirmed receipt of a complaint and said: "We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course. "

Observers' findings and numbers

The official election observer group Democracy Volunteers said it saw "concerningly high levels of family voting" in Gorton and Denton. Democracy Volunteers, impartial observers allowed into polling stations, said it saw family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations it was at across the constituency (there were 45 stations in total). It said the Gorton and Denton by-election saw the "highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK" and identified 32 instances overall, claiming one polling station saw nine cases of family voting.

Electoral Commission and council responses

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said it had received a letter from Farage and that it did "not have a direct role in investigating allegations of electoral fraud, which is a matter for the police. " The spokesperson added: "We work closely with electoral administrators to offer guidance, and make sure they have arrangements in place with their local police force to respond to allegations of fraud. " The commission also said: "We can confirm that we have received a letter from Nigel Farage MP. We will carefully consider the points raised in line with our role in supporting well-run elections. "

Manchester City Council said no issues had been reported and called it "extremely disappointing" that Democracy Volunteers had waited until after the close of polls to make the claims.

Hannah Spencer's background and aims

Hannah Spencer, 34, will arrive in the House of Commons as the Green Party's first ever Westminster by-election winner. Spencer, who worked as a plumber after leaving education aged 16, marked her victory in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester, with an apology to her customers, saying: "I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament. And when I get there, I will make space for everyone doing jobs like mine, we will finally get a seat at the table. "

Spencer described herself and her new constituents as those who "work hard" and warned that "working hard used to get you something" as she set out a desire to help people struggling with the cost of living. She said: "Instead of working for a nice life, we're working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry. And I don't think it's extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. " She added: "I think that absolutely everybody should get a nice life. "

Palestinian flags featured on Spencer's leaflets and she said during the campaign that she believed a "genocide" was taking place in Gaza. Spencer used a campaign video to say she spends her "life fixing things that are broken" and set out policies including ending privatisation in the NHS and nationalising water companies.

Spencer began 2026 with the ambition of "new year, new trade, " having returned to college to start a full-time plastering course and commuting by car to a college in Stoke while campaigning in Gorton and Denton. She posted on LinkedIn saying she had "slowly taught myself and done bits" of plastering and had signed-up for an intensive course, adding: "Plus, I just really love trying something new and not stopping until I crack it. " She said she "didn't grow up wanting to be a politician" but already leads the Greens on Trafford Council, where she has represented the Hale ward since May 2023, and she stood as the Green Party's mayoral election candidate for Greater Manchester in 2024. She will be the Green Party's fifth MP, sitting alongside Siân Berry, Adrian Ramsay, Carla Denyer and Ellie Chowns.

Campaign fallout and reactions

Matt Goodwin, Reform's candidate, accused the Greens of "sectarianism and cheating" and was described by commentators as looking "absolutely furious. " One commentary noted that "what Nigel Farage wants, Nige gets" and suggested Reform had become an "entitled establishment elite. " The same commentary referenced previous remarks attributed to Matt — "anyone who was black or brown wasn’t properly British" — and noted that those comments had upset the 40% of the constituency who were black or brown. It also referenced his suggestion that white girls should leave school and have babies rather than get jobs and said women were annoyed by that line of argument. Other observers noted that Angeliki Stogia "fled, Keir was tin-eared and Kemi brought the comedy" during the campaign period. The piece also recorded that Matt responded to the result by accusing the Greens of cheating.

There has been a large amount of attention in the past 24 hours about family voting in Gorton and Denton. Family voting is usually when members of the same family or household enter a voting booth together and collude or direct voting intentions. In the UK, this is a criminal offence under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

The police say they have received a complaint and are reviewing it; the Electoral Commission has the letter from Nigel Farage and says it will consider the points raised within its role supporting well-run elections. Manchester City Council and campaign figures have also issued responses, and the Green Party moved from its local successes to a national by-election victory.