3. Labour isin trouble
Labour won Gorton and Denton with more than 50% of the vote in the 2024
general election. Its distant third place in this vote will reignite questions
about Keir Starmer’s leadership and renew the criticism from those on the
left of the party that he has not done enough to impress its progressive base -
particularly coming on the back of a similar result last year in the Senedd seat
of Caerphilly.
“It’s a very disappointing result,” said Starmer. “Incumbent governments
quite often get results like that midterm. But I do understand that voters are
frustrated.”
The prime minister's decision to block Andy Burnham from running for the
seat will also be brought back into focus. Campaigners on the ground
repeatedly said that had the mayor for Greater Manchester run, the seat
could have been won.
I heard it said yesterday that Andy Burnham wins this either way.
#Labour #UKPOL #UKPolitics #GortonAndDenton #KeirStarmer #Starmer #AndyBurnham