Labour MPs demand Starmer change course after humiliating byelection loss

Par : Peter Walker · Josh Halliday · Jessica Elgot and Kiran Stacey

27 février 2026 à 18:46

Scale of defeat to Greens has plunged party into fresh despair and again raised prospect of leadership challenge

Keir Starmer is facing an ultimatum from his own party to change direction or risk a leadership challenge within months after the Greens humiliated Labour with a historic byelection victory in Gorton and Denton.

Overturning a 13,000 Labour majority from the general election, Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green councillor, became the party’s fifth MP on Friday. Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin was second, just ahead of the Labour candidate, Angeliki Stogia.

The men trying to do friendship, better – podcast

The Guardian

Par : Presented by Helen Pidd with Josh Halliday · produced by Ivor Manley and Brian McNamara · executive producer Sami Kent

27 février 2026 à 04:00

Can talking about their problems help men forge closer relationships – or is there another way? Josh Halliday reports

Josh Halliday is 37, and not short of friends. There are his two closest mates, and then the big group who meet up for weekends away. But recently the Guardian’s north of England editor has noticed something.

“My relationship with my two closest friends, who I’ve been friends with now for 15-16 years, has been fairly surface level, to be honest – 90% of our chat is probably football-related, always with a drink in hand. If you asked me to name their immediate family, I wouldn’t be able to do it. And I think that’s quite shocking really.”

Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place in blow to Keir Starmer

The Guardian

Par : Josh Halliday North of England editor

27 février 2026 à 05:32

Hannah Spencer elected as party’s first MP in northern England, as Labour sees a 25.3% drop in vote compared to 2024

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The Green party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection in a significant blow to Keir Starmer.

Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority.

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