Join us live as we cover tonight's Gorton and Denton by-election, as we bring you the student view on this evening's events.
News
Gorton and Denton by-election: live coverage
Live coverage ended
-
Goodnight, Manchester
Thank you all for following along with our coverage.
We will be wrapping up our live coverage now, but keep an eye out in the subsequent weeks for articles, analysis and a by-election post-mortem.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to both Rosie Goffe (Deputy News Editor at The Mancunion) and Will Fisher, our reporter on the ground in Gorton and Denton.
To close out, I'll give you one last quote (via Will F) from Zack Polanski's speech:
"They threw the kitchen sink at this election - but we had Hannah the Plumber!"
Will Knight
MMG News Producer -
Rachel Millward: "today, we made history"
Speaking to Will Fisher, our reporter embedded with the Greens this evening, Rachel Millward commented on the win:
"It shows what people power can do, it shows that hope is on our side"
"So many people came out today"
"Today, we made history".
-
What next for ReformUK and Labour?
With a strong win for the Greens, questions remain for the other major players in this race.
Though ReformUK will certainly be disappointed to not win the seat, taking home over 10,000 votes is no mean feat. However, this by-election makes it very clear that they are not the only party capable of taking on Labour, and despite high national polling, they will still have to fight every step of the way.
For Labour, this is a tough night. Falling from over a 50% vote share at the last election all the way to third place, questions will emerge over the party's direction, as well as the decision to prevent Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham from standing.
Questions for both parties will only become more pressing as we approach the local elections in May.
-
This is a big win for the Greens
Hannah Spencer, and the Greens, have done it. Winning with a strong lead, Spencer has proved the Greens can win, taking their first seat in the North-West.
In her speech, Spencer emphasised her working-class roots, stating she didn't grow up "wanting to be a politician", and apologising to her customers who had booked her for plumbing jobs.
"I'm heading to Parliament"
Spencer also made clear her broader political message, attacking "politicians and divisive figures", as well as promising to fight for those who feel "left behind".
All in all, a very good night for the Greens and their newest MP.
-
The results are in
Hannah Spencer, the Green Party candidate, has won the election with over 14,000 votes.
She is followed by ReformUK's Matt Goodwin with just over 10,000 votes, with Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia winning just over 9,000.
-
Returning officer is onstage
The returning officer is now onstage, and shortly will announce the results.
-
Results expected soon
Whilst we are not precisely sure when results will be released, it is likely that they will come within the next hour.
Stick with us until then to see who the next MP for Gorton and Denton is.
-
Exclusive: Green Party Deputy Leader crowd surfs
Yet again, you read that right.
According to our field reporter Will Fisher, Green Party Deputy Leader Mothin Ali is believed to have crowd surfed at the Green Party base of operations.
-
Labour Party Deputy Leader: "it is clear that the Green Party have turned out their vote more"
The Labour Party’s Deputy Leader, Lucy Powell, has spoken on the rising sense that the Greens have won tonight.
Powell told the BBC that “it is clear that the Green Party have turned out their vote more tonight than we have this evening”.
A Green Party source also told the BBC that they are “very confident of a win”.
Again, we cannot be certain on the result until the votes are fully counted and in.
Powell has also commented on the blocking of Andy Burnham's attempt to stand in the constituency.
"Conversations about Andy standing were the story of a few weeks ago"
"We have all moved on from that".
-
"A tale of two Manchesters": Gorton and Denton
Described to the BBC by University of Manchester professor Rob Ford as a "tale of two Manchesters", Gorton and Denton is not your typical constituency.
Formed ahead of the last general election, Gorton is home to diverse inner-city suburbs, while Denton remains a working-class, post-industrial town which a much older population.
In essence, the two halves couldn’t be more different in terms of demographics.
The four wards that make up the Manchester part of the seat are on average 42% white and 40% Muslim. 42% of the population are also either a university graduate or a current university student, likely due to the proximity of areas like Levenshulme and Longsight to student hubs Fallowfield and Withington.
In contrast, the three Tameside wards are on average 83% white, with 30% in routine or semi-routine jobs. The two areas make up the country’s 15th most deprived seat.
-
Exclusive: The Greens have formed a conga line
Yes, you read that right.
According to our reporter Will Fisher, the Greens have formed a conga line in the Niamos centre.
It seems they are in good spirits.
-
The UoM angle: Professor Rob Ford and the Greens
Earlier this month, the Green Party was caught in the middle of a controversy after issuing ‘misleading’ leaflets to voters.
The Green campaign had cited University of Manchester professor Rob Ford in a leaflet issued early on in the campaign. The leaflet portrayed Ford as having said that “the route to victory for the Greens looks more straightforward. A green victory over Reform, with Labour third, is perhaps the most dangerous result of all for the current leadership”.
In response, Ford stated that he had not approved being quoted, making it clear that he has not endorsed the Greens campaign, and that the quote was “misleading out of context”.
He received an apology from the Green Party for the “oversight” of his paper. However, the incident allegedly occurred again following this, and Ford was provoked to lodge an official compliant.
Andrew Weston, Labour’s campaign lead in Gorton and Denton, claimed that the incident was proof that the Green’s “promises are not worth the paper they’re written on”. He added that this made it clear “nobody can trust the Greens”.
Lucy Powell also wrote to Zack Polanski to highlight that the leafletting was unacceptable.
-
BBC reports unusually high turnout
The BBC is reporting an unusually high turnout for a by-election of 47.62% in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
This is similar to the turnout in the 2024 general election of 47.8%, but due to the fact that by-election turnouts are generally lower, this is a notable level.
It is important to note that this is not a fully finalised figure.
-
Three-body problem: Green, Labour or Reform?
In the past, by-elections have often been seen as simple tests of a governing party's performance in government.
In the traditional two-party system, this has often made the electoral calculus somewhat more manageable.
However, 2026 feels like a new age.
With the rise of both ReformUK on the right, and the Greens on the left, the two-party dominance of the Tories and Labour seems in doubt.
This means it is not a simple question of how vote shares move between two parties (and the Lib Dems), but where they go.
The feeling tonight seems to be that the needle has swung towards the Greens, but there is a long while left until results are known, and who knows whether what we see tonight will be reflected across the country.
What is certain is that what happens in Gorton and Denton this evening may set the tone for the upcoming May local elections.
If Reform can win, they will storm into the local elections with a key victory under their belt. If the Greens take the seat, they can position themselves with confidence as an electorally viable contender to lead the left. If Labour win, Keir Starmer and the government's position will be that much more secure.
-
What does the Labour candidate have to say about education?
Angeliki Stogia has not commented as much explicitly on education, but she emphasises Labour’s commitment to delivering affordable housing, a key priority for students according to our polling.
Nationally, Labour announced in the autumn Budget that the salary threshold when graduates must start repaying their Plan 2 loans would be frozen for three years from April 2027.
-
What does the Green candidate have to say about education?
Hannah Spencer in contrast focuses on discontent over rising tuition fees. She claims that the Greens would scrap tuition fees altogether, arguing that the party doesn’t believe that students should have to pay to access university.
Spencer, who left school at age 16 to take up a trade, advocates for alternative routes alongside university, such as apprenticeships, which “should be treated and seen in the same way as any other route of education”.
She also spoke on the problem of private landlords and soaring rent prices in student areas, stating that the party would look at measures like rent control and ways to lower bills so students no longer have to take on jobs alongside their studies.
-
What does the Reform candidate have to say about education?
When it comes to education, Matt Goodwin has a lot to say.
Goodwin was an academic for many years, and he landed his first post-doctoral role at the University of Manchester. He published a book titled ‘Bad Education’ in 2025, which was prompted by his disillusionment with academic and university life.
He is strongly against the ‘woke’ agenda that, in his view, has captured British Universities, and his work criticises the fact that that academics are no longer allowed to criticise the work of students because “they have become fee-paying clients whose sensitivities are cravenly indulged by cash-hungry administrations”.
Due to western universities moving “sharply and radically to the left”, Goodwin believes that diversity is now deemed more important than merit, with free speech becoming limited.
-
Labour sources nervous as Green confidence grows
Sky News is reporting that a figure within the Labour campaign has said they believe that they have lost the by-election.
The source suggests that losses amongst young Muslim voters to the Greens has weakened the Labour vote, with "heavy briefing" suggesting that the party's "hardline immigration rhetoric has been a problem on the doorstep".
Our on-the-ground reporter Will Fisher suggests that the mood within the Green camp is picking up, while other news sources suggest the feeling at the count is that the Greens are leading.
-
What are the candidates saying about immigration?
Immigration has been a contentious issue nationwide in recent years, and it has made its way into debates in this by-election.
Moreover, it's an important issue for students, particularly due to the presence of around 41,000 international students, many of which settle down after graduation.
Matt Goodwin, the ReformUK candidate, has been outspoken against immigration, claiming that “2063 is the year in which white Britons become a minority in the country”, adding that more diverse societies are also those less trustworthy.
Despite using his early academic career to highlight the risk of right-wing populism and extremism in neighbourhoods close to areas of high immigration, Goodwin now talks of the need for Britain tighten its borders.
In stark contrast, Labour’s Stogia emphasises that Manchester was built by immigrants, with Reform’s rhetoric about immigration very harmful for the city. She reinforces the need to centre the debate around hard facts.
Spencer echoes similar sentiments, sharing the anger that Reform and related far-right media are deliberately dividing people. She notably critiqued Goodwin for using the Manchester Arena bombing to question Muslims within Greater Manchester.
While acknowledging public concern and the need for a better system, Spencer argues that the debate has become too focused demonisation. She rather states that many constituents’ concerns are really about the crucial and more common every-day problems.
-
City and Community Officer:
Hasan Patel
-
Acting returning officer hits back over "family voting" concerns
A spokesperson for the acting returning officer has issued a response to allegations of "extremely high" rates of "family voting" by independent election observer group Democracy Volunteers.
"If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken. We have operated a central by-election hub which has been rapidly responding to reported issues during the day, in liaison with the police - who had a presence at every polling station - where necessary."
-
Faculty of Science and Engineering Officer:
Jack Newton
-
The national view: how would young people vote?
Whilst local concerns can play a major role in by-elections, we must also situate Gorton and Denton within the national debate.
One key area to look at is how the political parties poll amongst people 18-24 years old, a demographic that includes the overwhelming majority of students.
The Green Party leads the race amongst young people, with YouGov reporting 37% they would vote for them if an election was held tomorrow. Following them is Labour, with 21% of the age range, followed again by the Lib Dems on 18%.
Meanwhile, the right-wing parties of ReformUK and the Conservatives struggle amongst this demographic, polling at 9% and 10% respectively.
This contrasts with the overall national figure, where ReformUK has remained firmly in first when considering the entire population.
If the Greens or Labour win tonight, they may owe it to these younger votes.
-
Wellbeing and Liberation Officer:
Grace Hollingsworth
-
Will "family voting" concerns change the election?
With "family voting" concerns emerging after a statement by election observer group Democracy Volunteers, the question remains whether this will change the night's direction.
In as close an election as this is likely to be, there is a chance, however small, that one or multiple parties may challenge or question the result.
It is difficult to say what this would result in, but is something to keep an eye out for.
-
Postgraduate Research Officer:
Beck Heslop
-
Concerns raised over "family voting" in by-election
Election observer group Democracy Volunteers say they have seen "concerningly high levels" of what is known as "family voting"
"Family voting" refers to a breach of electoral law where a person casting a vote is accompanied in the polling booth by someone seeking to influence how they vote.
John Ault, Democracy Volunteers director has said "we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history", with family voting seen at 15 of the 22 polling stations in Gorton and Denton
-
We're back!
Results due soon
-
Do students care about the economy?
In a recent poll of 105 University of Manchester students conducted by The Mancunion, economic and financial concerns dominated concerns.
When asked what they thought the biggest issue for students was, 35 said affordability, while 45 said rent prices, suggesting the cost-of-living is top priority for nearly 4/5ths of the student body.
-
Nearly time for the results...
Sources suggest five minutes until we restart...
-
With that, a short break
See you in 20 minutes!
-
What are the candidates saying about the economy?
During a BBC debate on 17 February, many of the constituency’s top priorities were discussed by the candidates. The economy was one of the key topics.
Manchester has performed twice as well as the UK over the last decade, but all candidates agreed that places like Gorton risk being left behind and stuck with the cost-of-living crisis, having yet to fully benefit.
Hannah Spencer, Green Party candidate, focused on bringing energy back into public hands so that offshore shareholders are not being paid off through people’s wages.
Reform’s Matt Goodwin reiterated the fact that lots of people don’t feel that they have been part of the Manchester boom, highlighting that Reform would lower taxes for small businesses to promote jobs and growth.
Angeliki Stogia, Labour candidate, noted how the minimum wage is set to increase from 1 April, which should benefit thousands of workers across Greater Manchester. She also highlighted Labour’s introduction of free breakfast clubs for children as a money-saver for working families.
-
"Candidate's Candidate" goes to:
Anna Ward
-
"Odds are on that we'll win, but anything could happen": Green Deputy Leader
Speaking to Mancunion reporter Will Fisher at the Niamos centre, Green Deputy Leader Rachel Milward has commented on their election hopes.
"I'm absolutely full of gratitude"
"I feel like we're definitely in with a shot of winning. Odds are on that we'll win, but anything could happen"
Asked about the response to the Green campaign in Gorton and Denton, she said "I've never seen a time like it"
"We're out giving hope to everyone from different backgrounds".
-
Most supportive candidate goes to:
Sayana Backer
-
Who are the Lib Dem and Conservative candidates?
Charlotte Cadden is the Conservative candidate in Gorton and Denton.
She served for 30 years as part of both the Greater Manchester Police and the Metropolitan Police.
She has been involved in local Conservative politics in Bolton, set up the Police, Sex, Equality and Equity network and is a trustee of charity Sex Matters.
The Liberal Democrat’s candidate is Jackie Pearcey.
She has lived locally for decades and is a prominent activist in the area.
She has a doctorate in nuclear physics and has served as a governor at Oasis Academy Aspinal in Gorton for more than 20 years.
-
Best slogan goes to:
Winner: Alec Severs
Honourable Mention: Frances Connolly
-
What do the polls seem to say?
As stated above, no exit poll will be released tonight. This means all eyes turn to the three constituency-level polls conducted in Gorton and Denton before the by-election was held.
In January, a poll by Find Out Now placed ReformUK in the lead, with 30% of the vote. Labour followed in second at 27%, with Greens in third at 17%.
However, more recent polls paint a different picture. In a poll conducted on the 20th of February, Omnisis placed Green in first on 32%, ReformUK on 29% and Labour on 26%. Close, but with the Greens narrowly in the lead.
Finally, in a poll conducted between the 16th and 24th of February suggested a even tighter race, with Greens on 30%, and both Labour and ReformUK on 28%.
All of these seems to suggest a night of high tension. Whether you are staying up with us, or waiting to hear the results in the morning, we're sure to be in for some drama.
-
Best banner goes to:
Aaina Mohapatra
-
No exit poll conducted.
The Manchester Evening News are reporting that no exit poll has been conducted in Gorton and Denton this evening.
This means we will have to wait until official results are announced for a clear picture of what the result will be.
However, we can bring you the results of the most recent constituency-level poll, conducted by Opinium:
Green: 28%
ReformUK: 27%
Labour: 28%
Conservative: 6%
Liberal Democrats: 4%
Other: 6%As always, polls only capture a small snapshot of the constituency, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
-
Best design work goes to:
Meadow Ronan
-
Best moment of the week goes to:
Kai Prince
-
Who is the Labour candidate?
The Labour party have chosen Greek-born Angeliki Stogia as their candidate. Stogia grew up in Arta, Greece, and moved to the UK in 1995 to study at Manchester Metropolitan University.
She settled in Whalley Range, where she has been a Labour councillor since 2012. This role made her the first ever person of Greek heritage to serve on Manchester City Council.
She previously launched unsuccessful bids for the European Parliament in 2014 and for the Chester South and Eddisbury constituency at the 2024 general election. Stogia retains the full support of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
-
Best LeadMCR meme goes to:
Bohdan Ferubko
-
All to play for: brace for an interesting evening
By-elections are always interesting. All of the UK press concentrated in one constituency. Local issues playing off against national narratives. But this one seems even more intense.
Firstly, this is a narrow race. Polling suggests that the Greens, ReformUK and Labour are basically neck-and-neck, and despite the innumerable predictions you will have heard, no-one really knows which way it will go.
Secondly, this by-election comes at a time of intense political change. With ReformUK and the Greens on the rise, this is one of the biggest chances they have to demonstrate that they can seriously compete.
Furthermore, a big loss or a big win for Labour could mean a lot of PM Keir Starmer. -
Most supportive campaign team goes to:
Hasan Patel's team
-
Who is ReformUK's candidate?
Reform’s candidate is Matthew Goodwin, 44 year-old academic turned GB-news presenter.
Goodwin was born in St. Albans and has leaned heavily on his family’s Salford roots to lend him credibility in the area.
His academic history includes significant research into the rise of the far right and the British National Party in Tameside, which is a borough that is part of the Gorton and Denton constituency.
He landed his first post-doctoral role at the University of Manchester, but left academia in 2024 after taking redundancy as a professor at the University of Kent.
-
What are the alternative awards?
Alternative awards are awards given to candidates for their campaigning and character. Tonight they will include:
Most supportive campaign team
Best LeadMCR meme
Best moment of the week
Best design work
Best campaign slogan
Most lecture callouts
Most supportive candidate
The “candidate’s candidate”
-
Polls have now closed
Polls are now closed. We are expecting a exit poll shortly, and will keep you up-to-date.
-
Lexie Baynes: "running in these elections show you really care"
Speaking to the room, Lexie Baynes says:
"Running in these elections show you really care"
"Universities have always been places people challenge ideas"
"The 37 candidates here tonight chose to step forward, speak up and try to change Manchester"
Baynes goes on to thank the candidates, campaign teams, her colleagues and everyone who voted
-
Who is the Green Party candidate?
The Green Party candidate is Hannah Spencer, 34-year-old plumber born and raised in Greater Manchester.
She has lived in constituency and still works there. Spencer is leader of the Green Party Group, representing the Hale ward on Trafford Council since May 2023.
She left school at 16 to begin her trade and is now in training to become a plasterer too.
-
Lexie Baynes on stage
Our hosts have handed over to Lexie Baynes (current Union Affairs Officer), who is now speaking on stage.
-
What is an exit poll?
An exit poll is a survey of voters taken taken after they have voted. It gives a rough estimate on the results of the night.
It is important to note that the exit poll result is not necessarily conclusive; it is a sample of those who have voted, and in a close race like this, nothing is certain.
Tonight's exit poll should be released swiftly after polls close at 10:00 PM.
-
Our hosts are on stage
Priyanka Menon (The Mancunion's Opinion Editor) and Jacob Robinson (The Mancunion's Investigation Editor) are on stage.
-
Why is there a by-election in Gorton and Denton?
In September 2025, Andrew Gwynne, an Independent and formerly Labour MP, stood down as MP for Gorton and Denton, citing "significant ill health".
Gwynne had been dismissed from his role as a health minister in the government and suspended from the Labour Party following offensive comments made about constituents in a WhatsApp group-chat. -
How will the evening play out?
The evening will likely begin with an introduction from our hosts (more on them later), and after that we will move onto the Alternative Awards.
Following on, we will then have the results announced for each role. -
Who is standing?
Below is the full list of candidates in the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election
Sir Oink A-Lot- The Offical Monster Raving Loony Party
Nick Buckley- Advance UK
Charlotte Cadden- Conservative and Unionist Party
Dan Clarke- Libertarian Party
Matt Goodwin- Reform UK
Sebastian Moore- Social Democratic Party
Joseph O’Meachair- Rejoin EU
Jackie Pearcey- Liberal Democrats
Hannah Spencer- Green Party
Angeliki Stogia- Labour Party
Hugo Wils- Communist League Election Campaign
-
We are live!
-
Where is Gorton and Denton?
The constituency of Gorton and Denton sits to the southeast of Manchester city centre, stretching across neighbourhoods like Gorton, Levenshulme and Longsight out to the town of Denton in neighbouring Thameside.
Part of the constituency overlaps with areas many students known well, particularly Levenshulme and Longsight which sit just beyond the major student hub of Fallowfield
Estimates suggest a significant share of residents in these areas are either university students or graduates. With parts of the seat seeing a younger profile, issues like rent, transport and affordability, all big student concerns, can shape the political conversation.
-
When will hear about the results?
We don't know precisely when we'll know who the new MP for Gorton and Denton is, but it will likely be in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
However, soon after the polls close at 10:00 PM, we'll get an exit poll that will give us an estimate of the result. -
We are live!
Stick with us as we bring you our coverage throughout the evening, but in the meantime, check out some of our previous coverage of the race here.
-
We are live!
We'll be bringing you updates throughout the evening, but in the mean-time, check out one of our articles on the race here.
Comments
Powered by DisqusComments are provided by Disqus.