Gorton and Denton by-election: Polls open for crucial vote in Greater Manchester - when do polls close?
Polls have opened in Gorton and Denton as a crucial vote takes place in Greater Manchester that could have massive consequences for British politics.
Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat in 2024 with more than half the vote. However, after former MP Andrew Gwynne was suspended from the Labour Party and subsequently resigned as an MP, the constituency seat became up for grabs.
The vote looks to be a three-horse race between Labour’s candidate Angeliki Stogia, Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin, and the Greens’ Hannah Spencer.
Victory for Labour would afford Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer some breathing space following questions over his leadership of the party. On the flip side of this, defeat in Gorton and Denton could spell trouble for Starmer, with a third-place finish being viewed by some as a major blow to his premiership.
In a word to voters before polls opened, Starmer painted the contest as a straight battle between Reform UK and Labour, saying: “The choice at today’s by-election could not be more stark. Unity or division.
“Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back.
“Reform’s Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren’t white can’t be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing.”
Some Labour sourced have claimed that the strategy of viewing the by-election as a two-party race as opposed to a three-way battle has worked on some doorsteps, with claims that some voters have switched their support from the Greens to Labour.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited the constituency alongside Mr Goodwin on Wednesday (February 24), one day before the polls opened. Farage said during his visit: “Our message on election day is clear.
“The Prime Minister is panicking and knows he has broken his promises to the British people. Vote Reform to ditch Starmer.”
Meanwhile, Ms Spencer, the Green Party candidate, is pitching herself as the only alternative for anti-Reform UK voters, adding that her aim is to “run the far right out of Manchester, not to come back.”
She said: “The polls and independent tactical voting organisation are clear that voting Green is the only way to ensure Reform don’t win. We are confident and have run a fantastic campaign.”
Polls for the Gorton and Denton by-election opened at 7am and will close at 10pm.