Manchester Councillor Stogia to Contest Gorton Denton By-Election

Key Points

• Labour Party has selected Angeliki Stogia, a Manchester city councillor from Whalley Range, as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election following a hustings event and vote by local members at the Jain community centre in Levenshulme.
• Stogia defeated Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury council in Greater Manchester, who was reportedly the favourite of No 10; Labour insiders described the contest as closely fought, with Stogia’s local credentials giving her the edge.
• The by-election, set for 26 February 2026, was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne due to ill health; Gwynne remains under a parliamentary standards investigation over a WhatsApp group scandal called “Trigger Me Timbers” involving inflammatory comments, leading to his suspension by Labour.
• Labour faces competition from Reform UK’s Matthew Goodwin, a former academic and hard-right activist, and the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer, a Manchester plumber targeting anti-Reform progressive votes.
• Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell endorsed Stogia, calling her a “local girl” and “Mancunian” who has delivered for the area; Powell dismissed Greens’ challenge, highlighting Labour’s strong local brand bolstered by Andy Burnham’s initiatives.
• Stogia expressed excitement, pledging to reject division and win on doorsteps, acknowledging a “right fight” but confidence in activists and public support.
• Labour Party chair Anna Turley urged activists to face down Reform’s “toxic divisive” politics; Labour chief whip Jonathan Reynolds stressed no complacency in the Reform-Labour head-to-head, referencing tight Runcorn results.
• Greens’ deputy leader Zack Polanski campaigned in Levenshulme, calling it a “turning point”; Labour’s selection follows a row where Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was blocked by Labour’s national executive from contesting, sparking briefings and defences from Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram.
• Context includes Burnham’s denied bid amid speculation since mid-2025, Gwynne’s prior denials of standing down, and potential vote splits from Workers Party and Muslim Vote endorsements influencing left-wing dynamics.

Gorton and Denton (Manchester Mirror) January 31, 2026 – Labour has selected Manchester city councillor Angeliki Stogia to contest the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election on 26 February, following a tight selection battle at the Jain community centre in Levenshulme. Stogia, a ward councillor in nearby Whalley Range, edged out Bury council leader Eamonn O’Brien, who insiders said enjoyed No 10 backing. The seat became vacant after former MP Andrew Gwynne resigned citing ill health, amid an ongoing parliamentary standards probe into his involvement in the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group scandal.

Who is Labour’s Chosen Candidate for Gorton and Denton?

Angeliki Stogia, the newly selected Labour candidate, serves as a Manchester city councillor for Whalley Range in south Manchester. As reported in coverage of the selection process, she was chosen after a hustings event and vote by local Labour members at the Jain community centre in Levenshulme, south of the constituency. Labour insiders noted the contest against Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury council, was closely fought, but Stogia’s stronger local ties proved decisive.

Stogia herself stated she was “absolutely thrilled and excited” to be chosen. “I am a proud Mancunian woman,” she said. “I have walked the streets of this constituency. This is about Manchester. Manchester is a city united, we are rejecting division. I am so looking forward to going out on the doorstep and winning this for Labour. I am so excited that I got selected, and I am raring to go. We’ve got a right fight on our hands, but we’ve got the people with us, and we will win this.” Later, addressing activists, Stogia added: “I know we’ve got a mountain to climb, but look around you, we have got so many activists, we are absolutely going to win this election, and we are taking nothing for granted. We are going to be knocking [on] every door, we’re going to be talking to everyone, because we need everybody’s support.”​

Why Did Andrew Gwynne Resign Triggering the By-Election?

The by-election stems directly from the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, the former Labour MP for Gorton and Denton, due to ill health. Gwynne remains under investigation by parliamentary standards over his role in the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group, which shared inflammatory comments about constituents, local party members, and other MPs. This led to his suspension by Labour. Speculation about Gwynne standing down began in mid-2025 to pave the way for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, though Gwynne denied intentions to resign before May 2026 local elections.​

Who Are the Main Challengers Facing Labour?

Reform UK has selected Matthew Goodwin, a former academic turned hard-right activist, as its candidate, positioning the party as Labour’s primary foe. The Green Party is contesting with Hannah Spencer, a Manchester plumber, aiming to capture anti-Reform progressive votes. Labour has framed the race as a head-to-head with Reform, while also vying for left-leaning support against Greens. Additional dynamics include potential interference from the Workers Party, which could split Muslim votes, and endorsements like The Muslim Vote backing Greens early.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley told activists gathered for the announcement: “Look at the toxic divisive challenge we face here, and it’s such an important campaign that we have to face down Reform and the kind of divisive politics that they stand for.”

What Did Labour Leaders Say About Stogia’s Selection?

Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, expressed strong support: “I’m absolutely thrilled that my good friend Angeliki Stogia has been selected as Labour’s candidate today. She’s a local girl, she’s Mancunian, she’s up for it. She’s been delivering for people in this area for a long time, and that’s what we’re going to be going out on the doorsteps to say to people.” Powell also downplayed the Greens: “The Greens aren’t being entirely straight with people about this. They’ve got no councillors in this constituency at all, they’ve got no real base here at all. You might look at the national polls, but here in Manchester, the Labour brand is particularly strong and resilient, and in Denton as well, because of what Andy [Burnham]’s been doing, with better buses, more housing, more skills, opportunities for people. But also we’ve got a really good Labour council here. So we’ve got a very strong, resilient brand and we’ve spoken to over 15,000 people in a week. We know that this race is between us and Reform. The Greens aren’t really in this race at all, and they’re not being straight with people about that.”

Labour’s chief whip, Jonathan Reynolds, emphasised readiness: “It is definitely a Reform-Labour head-to-head. I don’t say that to disrespect any other political party, but I think the sense is, had the Greens really thought they were in it, Polanski would have been the candidate. And frankly, people will remember what happened in Runcorn, where six votes made the difference, and I think there’s a lot of people in that constituency who have seen what a Reform MP says and does for them.” He added there was “no complacency” about the challenge.

How Does the Andy Burnham Row Factor In?

The selection occurs amid a high-profile internal Labour dispute. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor, sought to contest the seat but was blocked by Labour’s national executive committee. Speculation dated back to mid-2025, with Burnham facing a deadline until 5:00 PM GMT on 24 January 2026 to decide. A cabinet member told The Times: “He’s been handed everything on a plate for his whole career. He’s now angry because people won’t make way for his second coming. It’s typical Andy.” Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram defended Burnham: “Enough already. I’ve kept my counsel so far because there were assurances from the prime minister that anonymous briefings against Andy Burnham would stop. These gutless people hide behind the cloak of anonymity, just like the keyboard warriors they rail against. These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents. For the sake of our party, please, just stop.”​

What Are the Greens’ Plans in This Contest?

Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski visited Levenshulme on Saturday with activists. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “What a turning point we can make happen for our country!” Labour counters that Greens lack local presence, with no councillors in the constituency. Analysts note Greens hope to leverage national polling and organisation to peel off disaffected Labour voters, potentially finishing ahead in a fragmented field.​

What Makes This By-Election Significant?

This contest pits Labour against Reform in a diverse south Manchester seat, with Gorton and Denton blending urban and suburban areas. Labour sets it as a battleground against divisive politics, but risks from vote splits on the left could aid Reform. With the poll on 26 February 2026, campaigns emphasise door-knocking and local delivery. The outcome may signal broader trends, especially after Gwynne’s scandal and Burnham’s blocked bid, testing Labour’s resilience in its heartland amid national pressures.