Keir Starmer could chicken out of major Reform showdown | Politics | News
Sir Keir Starmer risks angering Labor supporters after refusing to campaign in person in a tough by-election. His party faces an uphill battle in the vote to elect a new MP in Gorton and Denton later this month.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is expected to be a major challenger for the key parliamentary seat. Reform candidate, TV presenter and academic Matt Goodwin, said the by-election was a referendum on Sir Keir. Polls show the race for the Manchester seat is neck-and-neck.
The Prime Minister appeared to dodge the question when asked if he planned to campaign in Gorton and Denton ahead of the February 26 election.
Speaking to reporters on his way to Tokyo to meet new Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi, Sir Keir said his party would launch its campaign following the selection of Angeliki Stogia as a candidate, which was announced on Saturday.
“I’m constantly campaigning across the country,” he said. “As far as the by-election is concerned, it is now very, very clearly a by-election between Labor and Reform based on fundamental principles.”
The Prime Minister later pointed out that far-right activist Tommy Robinson had backed Mr Goodwin.
He added: “I see Tommy Robinson has just come out in support of Reform candidate Matt Goodwin.
“That tells you everything about the policy they intend to inject into the byelection, the toxic politics of division, so we can see exactly where this is going.”
Sir Keir said his party would “fight for regeneration, inclusive communities and bringing people together, and for real patriotism against the plastic patriotism of the Reformation”.
Asked whether he would travel to the constituency to support the campaign, he continued: “I will run my campaign across the country, as I always do.”
While polls show support for Sir Keir’s party is weakening, the Green Party has said it is the main option for voters who want to stop Reform.
Labor won the seat in 2024 with more than half the votes (18,555), while Reform UK came second with 5,142 votes, narrowly beating the Greens with 4,810 points.
