Labour MPs ‘reluctant to campaign in by-election’ as Reform and Greens threaten to snatch seat
Desperate Labor MPs are reluctant to campaign in the crucial by-elections in Gorton and Denton because they fear the party could face an embarrassing defeat amid growing concerns about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Sir Keir’s MPs have been given strict instructions to offer their support in the constituency and they are all expected to campaign in the seat at least once before the vote next month, amid growing fears that Reform UK or the Green Party could snatch the historically safe seat.
But some backbenchers said Independent They are reluctant about the prospect of going to Gorton and Denton, especially after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was prevented from standing in the seat.
A Labor MP said: “I’ll go once to say I’ve done it, but I’m not filled with enthusiasm to help a contest we’re going to lose.”
Another added: “What’s the point? Not too keen on knocking on doors just to save Starmer.”
“I bet he [Starmer] “He won’t go,” added another MP: “They probably won’t even want to see his face on the leaflets.”
There is real anger at Mr Burnham being prevented from standing. Labor will now choose from a shortlist of three relatively unknown councilors to contest the seat, with a candidate to be named on Saturday.
“We would win with Andy Burnham but I know activists in my constituency are not very inspired to go out there and campaign at the moment,” said one MP.
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s campaign efforts continue. Leader Nigel Farage arrived in his Greater Manchester constituency on Friday morning to support candidate Matt Goodwin.
The Reform UK leader, flanked by his local candidate, told party supporters: “We’ve got an excellent, strong candidate, I’ve known him for years… 15 years? Fifteen years? Something like that.”
“And I know Matt will definitely get behind the wheel and work very, very hard.”
He added: “This is my first visit and I’ll be here four or five times from now until the election. It’s great to see so many of you here.”
The Green Party has also launched a campaign and announced local councilor Hannah Spencer, who works as a plumber and trained as a plasterer, as its candidate for Friday’s by-election.
Green leader Zack Polanski said as the candidate was announced for the campaign launch at the Pakistan Community Center in Longsight, Manchester: “The Houses of Parliament. Leaky roofs, crumbling walls. I think they need a plumber! And a plasterer! And there’s someone who can do both!”
Labor already appears concerned about the influence of the Green Party, which has been rising in the polls since Polanski became leader in September last year.
Sir Keir’s party has launched a campaign to prevent left-wing voters from tactically supporting the Greens to avoid the so-called “Caerphilly scenario”. The Senedd seat in Wales had been held continuously by Labor for more than a century until last year; until voters tactically backed Plaid Cymru to keep Reform out, and the party came third.
Labor also benefited from the fact that Reform’s candidate, Mr Goodwin, was backed by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
But one senior backbencher said: “It’s a real shame that in a seat we’ve held for almost the last 100 years and where we had a huge majority at the general election, we’re desperately trying to stop voters turning to the Greens to stop Reform.”
They added: “If we come third in this seat, it will be unacceptable to our colleagues. It will only herald the bloodbath in May.”
But the prospects of a Green victory are now also seen by Labor as far worse than Mr Farage’s Reform.
A Labor MP whose seat is threatened by Reform said: “At least if Reform wins we can say we are against Reform, but if the Greens win it will feed the narrative that voting for the Greens is not a waste of money and there is a serious alternative across the country.”
The MP added: “Like other colleagues I will need to rely on tactical voting to keep my seat, but if people think they can vote Green and get a Green MP then that is much less likely to happen.”
