𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat in Greater Manchester with more than half the vote in 2024.

Mr Farage’s Reform UK came second, narrowly beating the Greens.

With polls suggesting support for Sir Keir Starmer’s party is crumbling, the Greens and Reform are aiming to topple Labour in the constituency.

The Reform UK leader joined his candidate, GB News presenter and former academic Matt Goodwin, in Denton for a walkabout on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski visited the seat to unveil a 34-year-old plumber as his Party’s candidate.

Mr Polanski said: “Hannah Spencer will be a brilliant MP for the people of Gorton and Denton.

“I’m a Mancunian and know when someone genuinely wants to roll up their sleeves and work for the community. Hannah is that person.

“We have just days to stop Reform and make hope normal again.”

Ms Spencer said: “This is a crucial by-election. The choice is clear – Green v Reform. Hope v hate.

“Only the Green Party can stop Reform in this by-election.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to visit the seat on Saturday to campaign for Labour despite not having announced a candidate.

The February 26 ballot, followed by May’s crunch local election, will be vital for Sir Keir Starmer, who blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing.

The head of the Fire Brigades Union warned that Labour’s 11 affiliated trade unions are prepared to call for Starmer to quit if he fails to show the party is “delivering” in the coming months.

Steve Wright, general secretary of the Labour-affiliated Fire Brigades Union, declared that Sir Keir’s Government “needs to start delivering for working people”.

Asked by Politics Home whether all 11 of the affiliated trade unions could come together and tell Sir it is time for him to go if the May elections are as painful for the party as predicted, Mr Wright said: “I think so.”