Gorton and Denton by-election: Votes being counted

[ad_1] Lots assume this by-election has been a good three-way tussle revealed at 22:00 GMT 22:00 GMT

Chris Mason Political editor, reporting from Manchester

The drama that has swirled round this by-election started months earlier than we even knew when or the place it could occur.

The query of when – and the way – the Mayor of Better Manchester Andy Burnham would attempt to return to Westminster has by no means been removed from political dialog since at the least final summer time.

A by-election within the north-west of England was seen as the best opening for him – just for the prime minister to lean on the bureaucratic strictures of the Labour Social gathering to squash Burnham’s ambition of working for Labour in Gorton and Denton.

That is the second Westminster by-election for the reason that basic election.

Reform gained the primary one, in Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire final Might, beating Labour by a whisker.

That was the tenth consecutive Westminster by-election the place a special social gathering took the seat from the one who had held it till then.

It’s one other case examine within the flux and unpredictability in our politics proper now.

In fact, as with all by-election, they don’t change the arithmetic a lot at Westminster – every are only one seat out of 650.

However they do change the temper and the political climate.

And regardless of the end in Gorton and Denton, this will probably be a newsy by-election. Lots within the numerous camps assume it may very well be a really tight three-way tussle between Labour, Reform and the Inexperienced Social gathering.

If Labour handle to win, even when solely by a smidgen, will probably be an enormous psychological enhance for Sir Keir Starmer, after a very tough begin to 2026 for him. He would be capable of level to his social gathering’s capacity to see off Reform and the Greens, and win in Better Manchester with out the person known as the "King of the North", Andy Burnham, as their candidate.

If Reform UK win, they might use the consequence to underline their ongoing political momentum. Equally, a loss would level to the restrictions of that momentum, albeit in a seat miles down their goal listing.

You might keep in mind they fell quick within the by-election for the seat of Caerphilly within the Welsh Parliament final autumn, when Plaid Cymru managed to steer the overwhelming majority of voters who didn’t need Reform to again them. If the anti-Reform vote splits extra evenly in tonight’s contest, it may permit them to nip by means of the center to victory.

Probably the most newsworthy consequence could be a win for the Inexperienced Social gathering of England and Wales. It could be their first ever victory in a parliamentary by-election in the event that they took the seat. In contrast to the others they might nonetheless afford themselves some smiles in the event that they lose, given they've clearly been aggressive on this contest.

And if Labour fail to win, it’ll be awkward for them if Reform are the victors - and arguably doubly awkward if it's the Greens – because it’ll illustrate the bind they're caught in between two insurgencies, one to their Proper and one to their Left.

Let’s see how issues unfold within the coming hours – the evening is younger.

<img alt="Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham t" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/640/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/320/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2026/2/26/2271bd38-e82d-43df-a315-d9ae7a3a788c.jpg.webp 800w" width="1903" height="1070" class="ssrcss-egie1y-Image edrdn950"/> Picture supply, EPA Picture caption, Better Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham tried to be Labour's candidate within the by-election - however was blocked by Labour's ruling Nationwide Government Committee