Prime Minister Starmer fights to retain Gorton and Denton constituency in crucial by-election

In northwest England, in the Gorton and Denton constituency in Manchester, a fierce three-way electoral battle is underway, the result of which could be crucial for the future of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Labour Party, which has dominated this constituency for decades, faces an unprecedented challenge from the Green Party and the right-wing populist Reform UK party. As a result, Prime Minister Starmer has taken the unusual step of personally engaging in the campaign, which is rare for a sitting head of government. The British electoral system is characterized by single-member constituencies, and the Labour Party has traditionally enjoyed strong support in the cities of northern England, including Manchester, since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. The Gorton constituency, historically represented by long-serving Labour MPs, underwent boundary changes and was merged with Denton ahead of the upcoming elections.The by-election, scheduled for Thursday, is for a seat in the House of Commons. Polls and field observations indicate that support for the Labour Party is "evaporating" in this traditionally safe seat. Lucy Fielder from Reuters notes that the challenge for the governing party comes from both flanks of the political spectrum. On one side, the Greens, as a party with a more radically left-wing platform, are drawing support from traditional Labour voters dissatisfied with the party's direction under Starmer's leadership. On the other side, the Reform UK party, continuing the tradition of the Brexit Party, is trying to attract conservative and Eurosceptic voters. This triple competition makes the outcome difficult to predict, and Prime Minister Starmer's visit to the constituency last weekend, accompanied by Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia, underscores the sense of urgency in the governing camp. On a rainy Saturday, activists from both main competing parties – the Greens and Labour – conducted intensive door-to-door campaigning in the Longsight and Levenshulme neighborhoods. A Labour defeat in Gorton and Denton would be interpreted as a serious blow to Prime Minister Starmer, who has just come through an internal leadership crisis. Losing such a constituency would weaken his position within the party and could destabilize his cabinet. A victory for the Greens or Reform UK, however, would mean a historic breakthrough of Labour's hegemony in this region and could initiate a broader political realignment in northern England.