Starmer reeling after by-election loss

BELEAGUERED Sir Keir Starmer was further weakened yesterday after Labour's humiliating by-election defeat to the Greens.

- BY MARTYN BROWN and KATIE HARRIS

The Prime Minister’s former deputy Angela Rayner led furious backbenchers and union leaders clamouring for urgent “change” following the rout in the Greater Manchester constituency of Gorton and Denton.

Hannah Spencer romped home with a 4,400 majority to claim the Greens’ first seat in the North of England, while Sir Keir’s candidate Angeliki Stogia halved the party’s 2024 election vote to 9,364.

Reform’s Matt Goodwin came second with 28.7% of the votes in an election that demonstrated a major breakdown of Britain’s traditional two-party system. Sir Keir played down the Labour meltdown as a “disappointing” setback for a government in midterm.

He also shrugged off condemnation for having blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing as the Labour candidate in the race.

But Labour MPs, unions and campaign groups demanded a change of course from the PM ahead of crucial elections in May.

Meanwhile the victory for plumber, local councillor and now MP Hannah Spencer was marred by allegations of “sectarian” divides and “cheating”.

Greater Manchester Police said it is reviewing a report of possible “family voting”, where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting.

Nigel Farage said his party Reform UK had reported cases of family voting to the police and Electoral Commission.

Coercion

Election observer group Democracy Volunteers claimed it had witnessed “concerningly high levels” of the practice in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed.

Mr Farage said it “raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas”.

He added: “If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes. If action isn’t taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election.”