Overview
- Hannah Spencer won with 14,980 votes, Reform UK’s Matthew Goodwin took 10,578, and Labour’s Angeliki Stogia received 9,364.
- The result overturns a long-held Labour seat in Manchester and gives the Green Party its fifth MP, marking a breakthrough in northern England.
- Labour’s vote share fell to 25.4% from just over 50% in 2024, raising fresh questions over Starmer’s direction ahead of May’s local and regional contests.
- Voter discontent over living costs, Labour’s stance on Gaza, and a highly active Green ground campaign helped drive the shift among students and Muslim residents.
- Separately, police are probing emails about Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, with Mandelson arrested and bailed this week as EU anti-fraud officials were asked to review the case.