Greens seismic win in Gorton and Denton by-election is ‘victory for cheating’, claims Nigel Farage: Live updates and reaction
The Greens are celebrating their first victory in a UK by-election today as they stunned Labor and Reform to take the seat of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester.
Hannah Spencer won the vote, collecting 14,980 votes, more than 4,000 ahead of her closest rival, Reform’s Matt Goodwin.
Ms Spencer’s victory inflicts fresh misery on Keir Starmer, who insisted ahead of yesterday’s by-election that only Labor could defeat Nigel Farage’s Reform.
The Greens’ victory in Gorton and Denton represents the sixth largest Labor majority overturned in a by-election since the Second World War.
Reacting to his party’s defeat, Nigel Farage claimed there had been ‘rigging’ after official observers raised the alarm over ‘family voting’, a major breach of electoral law.
Family voting is when a voter accompanies another person into or near voting booths for the purpose of influencing their vote.
The Reform UK leader shared on X: ‘This election was a victory for sectarian voting and fraud. Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Go to the polls on May 7. ‘This will be a farewell to Starmer and a farewell to the Tory party.’
Follow the latest political reaction to the Gordon and Denton byelections
Hannah Spencer admits she will have to cancel plumbing work in victory speech
To my clients, I’m sorry, but I think I may have to cancel the job you’ve booked because I’m going to Parliament. And when I get there, I’ll make room for everyone who does work like mine. Finally we will sit at the table.
We showed that we do not have to accept being enemies to each other. We can demand better without hating each other. We can do this together.
We ran a hopeful campaign supported by thousands of volunteers and activists. We defeated the parties of billionaire donors. We showed that we do not have to accept being enemies to each other in any way.
Full results in Gorton and Denton by-election.
Greens claim historic victory in Gorton and Denton byelections
