The Greater Manchester constituency Gorton and Denton faces a by-election following the retirement of sitting Labour MP Andrew Gwynne. This led to a brief psychodrama within the Labour Party over whether Andy Burnham would get the chance to run. Labour’s leadership has ruled that out, perhaps fearful of Burnham’s potential challenge to Keir Starmer.
There’s been predictable chatter about Nigel Farage vanity project Reform UK making a bid for the seat. But it’s decided to contest the traditional Labour stronghold with arch elitist Matt Goodwin. So who knows how that will go?
Reportedly Labour is concerned at the possibility of a Reform win. But it’s bricking it considerably more at the thought that the Greens might take it. This is because a Green victory would damage Labour’s claim to be the only alternative to Reform. And it would show that voters looking to support left-leaning politics don’t expect to find them in Labour.
Gorton and Denton is a relatively ethnically diverse constituency. It deserves an MP who’ll speak up for local people. Not one who’ll use it as a platform to spread Reform’s inflammatory rhetoric. And a statement from campaign group The Muslim Vote backs this up. It says Labour has “drifted far from the promise of change”. And it associates Reform with “division” and “scapegoating”.
The best option for Gorton and Denton, according to The Muslim Vote, is the Green Party. In a post sharing the statement, the group says the Greens have:
the politics, momentum and leadership under Zack Polanski and Mothin Ali in place to win the seat.
The statement adds that the Green Party has “the strongest opportunity to win”. It calls on the party to “work swiftly with local communities” and suggests that other progressive parties consider standing aside.
Statement by The Muslim Vote on Gorton and Denton by-election
The blocking of Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election is yet another example of a Labour Party fearful of even the most basic democratic challenge. It reflects a leadership more concerned with control than with listening to the communities it claims to represent.
From failing to address the cost of living crisis, to overseeing deteriorating public services, and presiding over the genocide in Gaza, this Labour Party has drifted far from the promise of change. It now offers a politics of continuity that leaves many voters feeling unheard, unrepresented, and deeply disillusioned.
This by-election comes at a moment when Labour is losing trust and support at a pace comparable to the rise of Reform – not because communities are turning to division, but because they are seeking a credible alternative rooted in fairness, accountability, and real change. Gorton and Denton deserves better than a choice between stagnation and scapegoating.
Muslim voters, alongside many others in the constituency, will play a decisive role in this by-election. This moment must result in the defeat of both Labour and Reform through unity behind a single, credible candidate.
On this occasion, we believe the Green Party offers the strongest opportunity to win, and we urge them to work swiftly with local communities, while calling on all other progressive and independent alternatives to stand aside to give the best chance of delivering a clear break from politics as usual and putting the community first.
Featured image via the Canary
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