2026 Gorton and Denton by-election

A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton was held on 26 February 2026. It was caused by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne. Many commentators saw the election as a three-way race between Labour, the Green Party and Reform UK. 

Background
Andy Burnham, the incumbent mayor of Greater Manchester, applied to be the Labour Party candidate, but his candidacy was controversially blocked by the Labour Party because they were worried if elected he would challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. 

Results
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer won the by-election by a majority of 4,402. She became the Green Party's fifth MP and first in the North of England. This was also the first ever parliamentary by-election win for the Greens.

The result was the sixth largest Labour majority to be flip at a by-election since World War II. It was the Greens' first ever Parliamentary by-election victory and the highest vote share they have ever received in such a by-election.

Opinion polls
 Date(s)conducted Pollster Client Samplesize Labour Reform Green Workers Cons Lib Dem OMRLP Advance Rejoin EU LPUK SDP Comm. League Lead2026 by-election 25.4%28.7%40.7%N/A1.9%1.8%0.4%0.4%0.3%0.1%0.1%0.1%12OpiniumByline Times/Forward Democracy40128%27%28%N/A6%4%1%2%2%1%0%—TieOmnisisOpal Ltd45226%29%33%N/A5%2%0%0%3%1%1%0%4List of candidates published for by-electionFind Out NowBetterworld Ltd14333%36%21%—8%3%—32024 general election 50.8%14.1%13.2%10.3%7.9%3.8%N/A36.7

Notes

References

Category:February 2026 events
Category:Green Party of England and Wales