A byelection is usually called when something bad has happened. In Gorton and Denton it is because Andrew Gwynne, the former Labour MP for the Greater Manchester constituency, became embroiled in an embarrassing WhatsApp scandal. Gwynne was suspended by Labour and then retired because of ill-health. On Thursday, his former constituents go to the polls to elect a new MP.
The byelection comes at a terrible time for Keir Starmer, with Reform riding high in the polls and his approval ratings at an all-time low. Then Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, said he wanted to stand.
Starmer blocked Burnham’s candidacy, saying it would cost too much money and energy to hold elections for the mayoralty were Burnham to win the byelection. If Labour loses, it could be another nail in Starmer’s coffin. But what would hurt him more? A Green victory or a Reform one?
Helen Pidd travels to the constituency to meet the candidates as they run their campaigns and speak to people in the area about where their voting allegiance lies. She finds a tightly run and heated race with strong feelings on all sides.
