All articles tagged with #by election
Green Party candidate Chris Kennedy withdrew from Makerfield's by-election hours after being named, apologising for social media posts describing an ambulance arson attack as a 'false flag'; the posts have been deleted and the Greens say they do not reflect party views. The by-election, triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons' resignation, is due on 18 June, with a replacement candidate to be decided on Monday.
The Green Party has withdrawn its candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Chris Kennedy, just hours after his nomination due to personal and family reasons. Nominations will reopen and a replacement candidate will be chosen, with a decision expected on Monday.
A POLITICO analysis maps Andy Burnham's speculative ascent from Greater Manchester mayor to UK prime minister via the Makerfield by-election, a Labour leadership contest, and an abrupt transition, highlighting his 'Manchesterism' push (devolution, public control of transport, housing and education), the internal rifts among allies, the lack of a clear foreign policy stance, and the heavy practical hurdles of reforming Whitehall, setting a tight timeline to deliver a bold agenda within a shortened political window.
A Makerfield by-election is set to occur after Josh Simons stepped down to allow Andy Burnham to seek a return to Parliament. Labour has officially named Burnham as its candidate, with three other parties also fielding candidates: Alan Hope for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Robert Kenyon for Reform UK, and Rebecca Shepherd for Restore Britain. The by-election date hasn’t been confirmed yet, and more candidates may be announced in coming days.
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, won the Gorton and Denton by-election, moving the Greens into five MPs and dealing a setback to Labour in its traditional northern stronghold. The surprise result challenges Labour’s strategy of courting Reform UK voters to counter the Greens, and signals a shifting local political landscape ahead of May local elections. Analysts say Labour faces a two-front battle as the Greens capitalize on cost-of-living discontent and broaden outreach to ethnic-minority communities.
Green candidate Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election with 40.7% of the vote, toppling Labour in a longtime stronghold as Reform finished second and Labour fell to third; analysts call it a seismic shift that signals fractures in the UK’s two‑party system and increases pressure on Keir Starmer, with Greens positioning themselves as an alternative to Labour.
Labour, Reform UK and the Green Party are contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election in a tight three-way race that could boost Keir Starmer or signal momentum for Reform and the Greens, while by-elections of this kind do not change Parliament's arithmetic.
Polls have closed in Manchester's Gorton and Denton by-election, with Labour, Reform UK and the Greens contesting a razor-thin three-way battle. Ballot boxes are arriving as counting begins at Manchester Central and results are not expected for hours. An election observer group reported concerningly high levels of family voting at several polling stations, underscoring the contest's volatility amid campaigning from multiple parties.
The Liberal Democrats have named Jackie Pearcey, a longtime local campaigner and school governor with a PhD in nuclear physics, as their candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election triggered by Andrew Gwynne’s health-related resignation, with Pearcey focusing on cost of living, NHS funding and revitalising local high streets, including her campaign to save Gorton Monastery from conversion to flats.
Reform UK has unveiled GB News host and academic-activist Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, triggered by Andrew Gwynne’s resignation for health reasons. Goodwin casts the race as a rebuke of the establishment and Keir Starmer, pledging to give local voters a voice in Parliament. The by-election is set for 26 February, with Labour’s leadership and NEC decisions already drawing scrutiny after Burnham’s aborted bid to stand and long-standing tensions ahead of the vote.
Labour faces anxiety as a fast-track by-election in the Gorton and Denton seat is set for late February (likely Feb 26) after the writ was issued; the party fears a possible upset by Reform UK or the Greens and warns that a defeat could spur leadership speculation, while Greens have begun candidate selection and other parties await announcements as the Burnham exclusion controversy continues to echo in the background.
About 50 Labour MPs signed a letter to Keir Starmer objecting to the NEC's ruling blocking Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, saying the move could hand Reform UK a boost and that Burnham might be Labour's best chance to win the seat; Starmer defended focusing resources on other elections, while Burnham would need to return to Parliament to mount a leadership challenge; the NEC decision comes after Labour won the seat in 2024 by around 13,000 votes, with Reform UK and Greens expected to challenge.
Keir Starmer and Labour's ruling body blocked Andy Burnham from returning to Westminster, quashing Burnham's bid to stand in a Greater Manchester by-election and underscoring ongoing leadership tensions that analysts say will likely feature more drama this year as rival ambitions clash with the prime minister's control.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has formally asked Labour's national executive committee for permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election; a win would clear the path to a future leadership challenge against Keir Starmer, though some MPs may try to block the move. If selected, he would resign as mayor, triggering a by-election for that post. Burnham says his intention is to support the government, not undermine it.
Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle won the Caerphilly Senedd by-election, defeating Labour which spent about £98,000 but finished third; Reform UK was runner-up with around £96,000 spent, while Plaid spent about £46,900. Triggered by Hefin David’s death, the contest ended Labour’s long-held Caerphilly seat. Spending details included Airbnb staff accommodation bookings and advertising, with Labour's spend roughly £26.51 per vote.