Labour group backed by Andy Burnham slams ‘error’ after election loss | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Blocking Andy Burnham from standing as Labour’s candidate within the Gorton & Denton by-election was “a catastrophic error”, Keir Starmer has been advised. And activists referred to as for “an immediate and fundamental reset”.

The feedback got here from a bunch referred to as Mainstream, which is backed by plenty of MPs – and by Mr Burnham himself. The Greater Manchester Mayor, who was blocked from standing within the by-election, was one of many founders of Mainstream earlier this 12 months, together with Labour MPs Clive Efford, Paula Barker, Clive Lewis, Olivia Blake, Alex Sobel, Dawn Butler, Rachael Maskell, Simon Opher, Chris Hinchliff and Peter Lamb.

It’s unclear whether or not the politicians assist the assertion issued in the present day. But Mainstream issued a hard-hitting response to Labour’s by-election loss, after the celebration’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia, got here third.

It mentioned: “The Gorton and Denton result is an absolute disaster for Labour. Clearly, we now risk no longer being seen as the natural home for progressive voters.”

“This loss was avoidable. Angeliki, members and our party staff worked tirelessly, but our leader and sections of the NEC blocked the one candidate who could have won it for us. That decision now looks like a catastrophic error.

“We need an immediate and fundamental reset now.”

The chief of the most important union affiliated to Labour mentioned the byelection defeat was a “wake-up call” for the celebration.

Writing on social media, Sharon Graham of Unite mentioned: “If Labour needed any further wake up calls – this is clearly one. Labour need to now ditch the gimmicks and get back to being Labour – not new, not one that plays games, but real Labour.

“Workers and families are hurting. We have a cost-of-living crisis largely being ignored and investment in jobs for the here-and-now being blocked by a Treasury that doesn’t seem to understand the basics of what is needed to build Britain.

“Stop listening your rich mates and start listening to everyday people.”

Ensure our newest politics headlines at all times seem on the high of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click right here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

The Green Party has gained its first ever parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton, dealing a bitter blow to Sir Keir Starmer.

Labour’s defeat, trailing in third behind Zack Polanski’s Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK within the beforehand rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency, will pile stress on the Prime Minister.

Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumber, emerged victorious for the Greens, with 14,980 votes and a majority of 4,402 votes.

Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin received 10,578 votes, with Labour’s Angeliki Stogia trailing on 9,364, down from 18,555 within the 2024 basic election, when the turnout was equally excessive.

Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden obtained simply 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653.