Sir Keir Starmer faces potential backlash from Labour backers after declining to confirm his direct involvement in a pivotal by-election campaign. The contest, set for February 26 in Gorton and Denton, pits Labour against a strong push from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Reform UK Mounts Serious Challenge
Reform UK’s candidate, television presenter and academic Matt Goodwin, has framed the by-election as a direct judgment on Starmer’s leadership. Recent polls indicate a tight race in this Greater Manchester constituency, heightening the stakes for both parties.
During a flight to Tokyo for discussions with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Starmer sidestepped inquiries about his plans to visit the area. He noted that Labour would outline its strategy following the announcement of Angeliki Stogia as the party’s candidate over the weekend.
“I’ve been campaigning all the time across the country,” Starmer told reporters. “In relation to the by-election, it is very much and very clearly now a by-election between Labour and Reform on key principles.”
Starmer Highlights Opponent’s Controversial Backing
Starmer drew attention to an endorsement from far-right activist Tommy Robinson for Goodwin. “I see that Tommy Robinson, I think, has just come out in support of Matt Goodwin, the Reform candidate,” he said. “That tells you everything about the politics they intend to inject into this by-election, the politics of poisonous division, so we can see exactly where that’s going.”
Emphasizing Labour’s approach, Starmer added that his party would “fight for renewal, for inclusive communities and bringing people together, and for true patriotism against the plastic patriotism of Reform.”
When pressed further on whether he would appear in the constituency, Starmer reiterated: “I will be campaigning across the country, as I always do.”
Green Party Positions as Reform Alternative
The Green Party has positioned itself as the primary choice for voters seeking to counter Reform UK, especially as surveys show declining support for Labour. In the 2024 general election, Labour secured the seat with 18,555 votes—more than half the total—while Reform UK took second place with 5,142 votes, edging out the Greens’ 4,810.
