Gorton and Denton By-Election Set for February 2026 After Resignation

The upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton was scheduled after the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, who had been serving as an independent MP following his suspension from the Labour Party and cited ill health as the reason for stepping down.

The Labour Party’s National Executive Committee voted 8-1 to prevent Andy Burnham from being selected as the party’s candidate for this by-election. In response to internal disputes regarding candidate selection, Labour expedited the by-election timetable.

Three parties—Labour, Reform UK, and the Green Party—are considered the main competitors in this contest. Labour has selected Angeliki Stogia as its candidate, while Reform UK is represented by Matt Goodwin, a political commentator and former academic. The Green Party’s candidate is Hannah Spencer, who serves as a Trafford councillor and previously ran for Greater Manchester mayor.

Polling data ahead of the vote indicates a competitive race among Labour, Reform UK, and the Greens. Some polls have shown either Reform UK or the Green Party leading Labour in voter support.

What the numbers show

• The by-election is scheduled for 26 February 2026
• In 2024, Labour won the seat with a majority of 13,413 votes and 50.8% of the vote
• Reform UK received 14.1% and the Greens 13.2% in the 2024 general election

The by-election was called after Andrew Gwynne’s resignation, which followed his suspension from the Labour Party and subsequent period as an independent MP. Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing was made through an official vote by the party’s National Executive Committee.

Labour’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia, is joined on the ballot by Matt Goodwin for Reform UK and Hannah Spencer for the Green Party. Each party is seeking to improve on its performance from the 2024 general election, where Labour previously held the seat by a considerable margin.

Reform UK’s candidate, Matt Goodwin, described the by-election as a “referendum on Keir Starmer.” The Green Party’s Hannah Spencer brings experience as a local councillor and former mayoral candidate to the campaign.

Labour’s decision to accelerate the by-election process was intended to address internal party issues related to candidate selection. The contest is being closely watched due to the competitive polling among the three main parties.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.