Story perspectives

Labour's Leadership Scrutiny Intensifies After By-Election Loss

2/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell said Burnham could have won the Gorton and Denton by-election, where Angeliki Stogia finished third.
Powell was the only Labour executive committee member to back Burnham.
The Green Party's Hannah Spencer won the by-election, intensifying scrutiny of Labour's leadership under Sir Keir Starmer.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, plans stricter immigration legislation.
Labour is not losing Muslim voters over immigration.

History

Historical Context

The Manchester Gorton constituency has been a Labour stronghold since 1935, with Sir Gerald Kaufman serving as MP from 1983 until his death in February 2017. In the subsequent June 2017 general election, Labour's Afzal Khan won with 76% of the vote, reflecting the party's dominance. However, recent shifts in voter sentiment, highlighted by the Green Party's success in a 2026 by-election, challenge Labour's leadership under Sir Keir Starmer.

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Story summary

Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell said Burnham could have won the Gorton and Denton by-election, where Angeliki Stogia finished third.
Powell was the only Labour executive committee member to back Burnham.
The Green Party's Hannah Spencer won the by-election, intensifying scrutiny of Labour's leadership under Sir Keir Starmer.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, plans stricter immigration legislation.
Labour is not losing Muslim voters over immigration.

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