NOS Nieuws•
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Arjen van der Horst
UK Correspondent
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Arjen van der Horst
UK Correspondent
Could Prime Minister Starmer face another blow? Voters in a parliamentary constituency in South Manchester are heading to the polls today for a by-election, and much is at stake for the Labour Party.
Normally, this region would be a sure thing for Starmer’s party, but after the scandal surrounding Peter Mandelson, nothing is certain. Even the Prime Minister’s position is looking precarious, according to recent reports.
The Gorton and Denton constituency has two faces. Gorton is quite diverse in terms of its population, but the old working-class town of Denton has a predominantly white population. Here, the imposing red brick chimney of the old Moores hat factory recalls a glorious industrial past. It has long been considered a Labour stronghold.
From Labour to Farage
But, like many other old industrial areas in Northern England, the anti-immigration party Reform UK is gaining ground in Denton. Many voters are disillusioned Labour supporters who have switched their allegiance to Nigel Farage’s party.
“Labour has been in charge here for at least forty, fifty years, but it’s remarkable how quickly voters here have turned away,” says local resident John Haygarth, who has lived in Denton for most of his life. “Now you see Reform campaign posters behind every window.”
Voters in Denton are voting for Reform UK for a variety of reasons. Haygarth wants stricter immigration policies. For couple Paul and Claire Wilkinson, local issues are key. “We’ve had enough of the potholes and we desire cleaner streets.”
Stuart Jones has no time for Labour’s green policies and is voting for Reform UK because the party promises to scrap climate policies.
Rise of the Greens
There is one thing all these voters share: their disdain for Prime Minister Starmer. “Starmer is a disgrace,” says Jones. “Labour should be the party of the people, but it’s a scandal what they’ve done to the country.” John Haygarth can’t name one decision by the Labour government that he supports. “And if they do make decisions, they quickly reverse them.”
Even in the more diverse Gorton, dislike of Starmer is widespread, but there it translates into more support for the Green Party. The British Greens have long been on the fringes of British politics, but under the fresh leadership of the charismatic Zack Polanski, the party is making a strong comeback.
End of an Era
this one constituency reflects the trends in national politics. For over a century, Labour and the Conservatives have been the dominant forces in the United Kingdom, but that era appears to be coming to an end.
For the first time, the flanks are attracting more votes than the established parties: according to the average of the polls, Reform UK and the Green Party together account for 43 percent of the vote, while Labour and the Conservatives together remain at 35 percent.
