In a stunning upset, Labour dropped to third place in the ultra-safe Gorton and Denton by-election, sparking crisis talks within the party. Elections expert Lord Robert Hayward warns that the hard-left alliance behind this result—featuring Zack Polanski’s Greens, Jeremy Corbyn’s independents, and George Galloway’s Workers Party—could expand nationwide, severely damaging Labour ahead of the May 7 polls.
The Gorton By-Election Breakthrough
Keir Starmer has convened a rare political Cabinet meeting for Tuesday morning to address the fallout. In Gorton, Corbyn and Galloway’s groups stepped aside, consolidating hard-left and Muslim votes behind the Greens. This propelled the Greens ahead of Labour, which had dominated the seat for decades, with Reform UK taking second place.
Lord Hayward highlighted the alliance’s success at a Monday press briefing. “In Gorton we saw the Greens, the Workers Party and independents work together successfully,” he stated. “There is potential now for them to do that again in a whole load of other places, including London.”
London as the Key Battleground
Labour controls 21 of London’s 32 boroughs, but party insiders fear Green gains could cost hundreds of seats. Lord Hayward emphasized that no area is immune, including Starmer’s North London stronghold, where Labour holds every council seat.
“If they work together and if the Greens are able to maintain their current poll ratings, then the potential threat for Labour is very substantial indeed,” Hayward added.
Leadership Shake-Up Risks
The results may influence Labour’s future leadership race. Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s Redbridge council faces collapse, compounding his narrow parliamentary win last election amid a pro-Gaza challenge. “If you are arguing you want to be party leader it is slightly harder if Labour has just failed to hold your own local council,” Lord Hayward noted.
Reform UK’s Challenges
Reform UK, aiming to target both Labour and Conservatives, encounters resistance. Canvassers report a rising “anything but Reform” mood, with voters favoring candidates best positioned to block Reform locally.
Stakes High for May 7 Nationwide Vote
Over 5,000 seats across 136 English councils go to the polls on May 7, alongside elections in Scotland and Wales—the broadest test of the government since the 2024 general election. Lord Hayward underscored the pressure on Starmer: “He may have felt that he survived a few weeks ago, but the question now is will he survive May 7? It is the most truly national elections, and also multi-party and multi-location elections.”
