News: Greens' stunning Gorton and Denton by-election win leaves Starmer on ropes and sparks 'nightmare for Labour'

The latest news from Gorton and Denton is a seismic Green victory that has upended front‑page narratives and put intense pressure on Sir Keir Starmer. The result, the Greens' first ever by‑election win, has prompted calls inside the party for a shift to the left, allegations of voter fraud to be investigated, and a wave of local voter reaction ranging from "buzzing" to "relief".

News reaction: front pages and the 'Starmer on ropes' narrative

National front pages framed the outcome as a crushing by‑election defeat for Labour and ran headlines suggesting Sir Keir Starmer is "on ropes" and facing a "nightmare for Labour. " Ministers are said to believe it is now "inevitable" that Starmer will not lead Labour into the election, while Starmer himself has said he would not step down and would continue to fight "for as long as I've got breath in my body. "

Coverage also highlighted calls for police attention, with some urging investigators to examine what they described as "clear evidence" of voter fraud and separate confirmation that a report had been made over alleged 'family voting' claims. Other front‑page angles included demands that Labour push ahead with a crackdown on migration, the closure of an embassy in Iran, and international movement of some citizens and diplomats from the Middle East amid fears that a potential attack could spiral into wider conflict.

Within the party, pressure was portrayed as acute: an ultimatum to change direction or face a leadership challenge was described, and senior figures were framed as openly urging the party to "wake up" and "be braver. " One former deputy leader was positioned as a leadership rival leading a new threat to the prime minister, with warnings that the situation could be "terminal. "

How the Greens pulled off the upset

The victory followed a muted celebration at the wedding‑venue news conference chosen for the announcement, where Zack Polanski and his team looked inexperienced amid a sea of empty chairs and a smattering of supporters. Seasoned operators such as Nigel Farage, Sir Keir Starmer and Ed Davey were invoked as contrasts to the quieter scene when Polanski and Hannah Spencer took the stage.

Electoral figures underline the scale of the swing: the Greens moved from third place at the 2024 General Election to winning by 4, 400 votes over Reform UK, overturning a Labour majority of 13, 000 with a 26 percentage‑point swing. The Greens took 40% of the vote, in what was noted as only the 18th time in 100 years that a party has come from third to take a seat. That shift is being described as evidence that the Polanski surge is real and that the Greens are a serious threat on Labour's left flank.

This result also punctured a key campaign line: Starmer had run on the premise that only Labour could beat Reform, but the by‑election outcome challenged that claim and leaves Labour arguing to retain voters who might be tempted to move left to the Greens.

Gorton and Denton voters: from 'buzzing' to 'relief'

Local reactions were varied and personal. Hannah Spencer, a 34‑year‑old plasterer and plumber, secured the Greens' first by‑election victory with 14, 980 votes, beating runner‑up Reform UK and pushing Labour into third place. At least one lifelong Labour voter said he voted Green from the heart after feeling let down by Labour's perceived shift to the right.

Fiona Daniel, 42, described herself as "beyond buzzing" after switching from Labour, citing a left‑wing identity, frustration with Labour's direction and support for Green drugs policy after seeing friends suffer from addiction. An anonymous man who switched also said he was "really, really relieved, " naming his primary concern as stopping Reform and expressing unhappiness with Labour's stance on Palestine; he blamed Starmer personally after the party's ruling body blocked Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's bid to stand as the Labour candidate and suggested Labour would have had a better chance if Andy had stood.

Dale Owusu, 63, said he no longer trusted any of the parties after voting all his life, raising unemployment and the plight of young people on universal credit as central worries and calling for apprenticeships and more work‑focused pathways from school. He also said immigration was "getting way out of hand. " Fran Slater, 42, who is half‑Indian, said she had been terrified Reform might win because their rhetoric felt "scary and horrible. " Joanna Howard, 50, said she had voted Labour previously but was dissatisfied with Labour's immigration policies.

What this means next for the parties

The immediate fallout is a scramble: internal calls for Labour to move left or face leadership pressure, Greens positioning themselves as the credible left‑wing alternative that can beat Reform in working‑class areas, and renewed recriminations within Labour ranks. The result leaves Labour fighting on two fronts and forces the party to make a case to voters why they should stick with it rather than shift to the Greens. Police inquiries into voting claims and broader national headlines about political stability and security will continue to shape the story in the coming days.