‘Our own people hate us’: Labour given byelection wake-up call after 13,000-vote majority disappears

Labour billed it as two-horse race' with Reform UK, but Greens' media campaign, and Hannah Spencer's authenticity, won the day

From the outset of the Gorton and Denton byelection, Labour strategists were desperate to say the party was on course to win, but the party's trouncing at the hands of the Greens has made this look laughable in hindsight.

Hollie Ridley, Labour's general secretary, sent a note to No 10 at the end of January saying it was clearly a two-horse race" with Reform UK, and only 3% of voters saying they would stick with the Greens.