Labour, Greens, Reform UK in tight three-way contest in Manchester by-election

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Polls on Thursday opened in the Gorton and Denton by-election in south-east Manchester, in what is being described as one of the most unpredictable contests in recent years.

Voters began casting their ballots in a closely fought three-way battle between the Labour Party, the Green Party and Reform UK.

In a statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday the choice facing voters was clear.

“The choice at today’s by-election could not be more stark. Unity or division. Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back.

“Reform’s Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren’t white can’t be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing," he said.

Zack Polanski, the Green Party’s deputy leader, said his party was “neck and neck” with Reform UK and suggested Labour was no longer competitive in the race.

“It’s looking neck and neck between the Green party and Reform,” he said. “I don’t think Labour are in this race at all – they’ve known that for a long time.”

Polanski accused Labour of deliberately attempting to split the left-leaning vote, arguing that a Green victory would be “existential” for Starmer.

He added: "The Labour party know that the Green party are on track to win this election and I think that they’re doing everything they can to try and split the vote."

"My biggest fear is a scenario where Reform win by a handful of votes because Labour took a small percentage of the vote but it was just enough to stop the Green party from winning," he underlined.

Far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said in a statement: “Our message on election day is clear. The prime minister is panicking and knows he has broken his promises to the British people. Vote Reform to ditch Starmer.”

Labour has targeted left-leaning voters in the constituency with warnings that only it can prevent a Reform victory, arguing that a vote for the Greens would, “in effect, [be] a vote for Reform.”

The result is expected to be declared Friday afternoon.

The seat, located in Greater Manchester in north-west England, was held by Labour at the 2024 general election with a majority of 13,413 votes.

At that election, nearly 80% of voters in the constituency backed parties on the political left.