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Historic defeat in Manchester stronghold triggers urgent calls for Keir Starmer to step down.
The political landscape of Greater Manchester has been fundamentally reshaped following a seismic by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton, leaving Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership hanging by a thread. In a result that has sent shockwaves through Westminster, the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer secured a historic victory, relegating Labour to a humiliating third place in what was once considered one of the safest seats in the country. The fallout has immediately reignited internal fury over the National Executive Committee’s controversial decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing as the Labour candidate, a move now widely viewed as a fatal strategic error.
Strategic Blunders and the Burnham Factor
Insiders suggest the decision to prevent Andy Burnham from entering the race was the primary catalyst for the party's collapse in the polls. By utilizing a 2025 rule change to deny the popular Mayor a return to Parliament, Starmer’s team reportedly aimed to neutralize a potential leadership rival. Instead, the move alienated local voters who viewed the intervention as "Westminster factionalism" at its worst. This vacuum allowed the Green Party to consolidate the progressive vote, while Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin capitalized on disillusioned working-class supporters to claim second place, leaving Labour’s Angeliki Stogia trailing with a dismal 9,364 votes—a staggering drop from the 2024 general election.
Rayner Positions as the "Brave" Alternative
As the pressure on No. 10 intensifies, Angela Rayner has emerged as the focal point for those seeking a change in direction. In a carefully worded but unmistakable critique delivered hours after the result, the former Deputy Prime Minister called for Labour to be "braver" and "listen" to the electorate. While Rayner has publicly maintained party discipline, her rhetoric suggests a strategic pivot toward the "Labour agenda that puts people first," distancing herself from the current administration’s cautious fiscal approach. Analysts believe Rayner is now the "bridge" candidate, capable of reuniting the party’s fractured base while satisfying the unions, who have grown increasingly hostile toward Starmer's inner circle.
The Looming Leadership Challenge
The road ahead for the Prime Minister appears increasingly fraught as the May local elections approach. With backbench MPs like Brian Leishman and Karl Turner openly labeling the result "catastrophic," the mechanism for a leadership challenge is being discussed in the corridors of power. The "message of hope" delivered by the Greens has proven that Labour’s core vote is no longer guaranteed, and the "siege mentality" within Downing Street is struggling to contain a mounting rebellion. If Starmer fails to present a radical policy shift within the coming weeks, the calls for his resignation are expected to transition from private whispers to a formal vote of no confidence.
