The Electoral Test in Gorton and Denton Could Have Broader Implications for British Politics

The by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency, scheduled for February 26, 2026, has transformed from a local event into one with potentially wider significance for the British political scene. This constituency, traditionally safe for the Labour Party since World War II, where the party regularly secured over 50% of the vote, has become an arena for testing Keir Starmer's government after less than a year and a half of his tenure as Prime Minister. The socio-demographic context is key to understanding the tensions. The constituency combines two different worlds: Gorton, part of Manchester, is a diverse suburb with a large Muslim and student community. Denton, located in the Tameside district, is a post-industrial, predominantly white working-class town, where textile production and coal mining once thrived. It is in Denton, described by residents as a "forgotten town", that the campaign of the right-wing Reform Party is most visible, with turquoise-colored posters in windows and on fences. The Reform UK party, founded as the Brexit Party in 2018, was rebranded in 2021 by Nigel Farage. This group, advocating for radical immigration reduction, low taxes, and skepticism towards climate policy, has gradually gained importance, taking votes from both the Conservative Party and expressing the dissatisfaction of part of the traditional working-class electorate. Voter sentiment, as reported by journalists, is full of palpable frustration. Many feel abandoned by the Labour Party, which they perceive as a party "for the middle class", not for workers. <cytat autor=