By Tajammul Gurmani:
Manchester:
A tough competition is expected in the Gorton and Denton by-election for the MP seat, which fell vacant after the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne due to health problems. According to the latest survey reports, there is close competition between the Labour Party and the Reform Party. The Reform Party is leading with 34 per cent, while Labour is close behind with 32 per cent, according to a local opinion poll. Both parties have already started their by-election campaigns and are trying to convince voters through door-to-door campaigning. Candidates from the Workers Party and the Green Party are also contesting the by-election, which will be held on Thursday 26 February 2026. This constituency includes the areas of Gorton, Denton, Levenshulme, Burnage, Longsight and other parts of Manchester, where the Asian community is expected to play a key role in the by-election. According to political sources, the Labour Party has shortlisted two candidates for the Denton and Gorton parliamentary by-election: Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, and Angeliki Stogia. Earlier, Labour had six candidates on its longlist, including two British-Pakistani councillors, Cllr Rab Nawaz Akbar and former Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Abid Latif Chohan. Labour’s National Executive Committee earlier blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing as a candidate.
Voting between the shortlisted Labour candidates will be held on Saturday 31 January at 9:30am at a local community hall on Stockport Road, Manchester.
The Reform Party has selected Matt Goodwin as its candidate, while the Workers Party has reportedly nominated Longsight councillor Shahbaz Sarwar, though he has not yet confirmed his nomination.
Talking to the media, Labour’s deputy leader and Manchester MP Lucy Powell said this is a very critical by-election and urged people to come out and support Labour. She criticised the Reform Party’s campaign and policies on immigration and said they should be strongly rejected, calling on voters to stand behind Labour.
