On an uncharacteristically sun-soaked Valentine’s Day in the middle of a Denton housing estate, prominent Labour figures converged to rally support for their candidate, Manchester councillor Angeliki Stogia, as the Gorton and Denton by-election draws near. Former leader Ed Miliband, now a cabinet minister, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, widely known as the ‘King of the North’, were joined by Labour’s Deputy Leader Lucy Powell and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig. Their collective presence underscored the high stakes for Labour, facing significant challenges from Reform UK and the Green Party in a historically safe seat.

Ed Miliband framed the by-election as more than just a fight for the Labour Party, but a battle for the values of the area and the country. He asserted that Angeliki Stogia is campaigning against the politics of division, stating, “This is about the values of this area. We’ve seen what happens when you normalise the far right and the rhetoric of the far right. It just allows even more hatred and even more division.” Miliband expressed pride in Stogia’s campaign, urging a vote for progress, unity, and against hatred. Stogia herself, opening a rally with a passionate declaration of “I’m Angeliki, and I’m angry,” echoed these sentiments, directly challenging her opponents.

Reform UK’s candidate, GB News presenter Matthew Goodwin, countered Labour’s rhetoric with allegations of his own, accusing the party of causing damage to the community. He cited the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group scandal, which led to the suspension of MP Andrew Gwynne, as well as Labour’s policies on high taxes, mass migration, and HMOs. Goodwin claimed Labour had laughed about residents in WhatsApp groups, deeming it unacceptable. Miliband vehemently rejected Goodwin’s assertions, pointing out, “The guy says that you can’t be British if you weren’t born here, right? That is an insult to so many people who contribute to this country. It’s an insult to my parents, who came here fleeing from the Nazis, and contributed to this country.” He warned against normalising such rhetoric, drawing parallels to the “tropes of the 1980s.”

Regarding the WhatsApp scandal, both Burnham and Miliband acknowledged its gravity. Burnham stated, “[The Whatsapp scandal] was wrong,” a sentiment Miliband seconded, adding, “We understand that people will feel angry about what Andrew Gwynne did and they’re right to feel angry about that.” However, they pivoted the conversation back to the by-election, emphasizing that the vote is about who will represent the constituency now. Miliband championed Angeliki as a “brilliant member of Parliament” who would work incredibly hard and embody desired values.

Mayor Andy Burnham highlighted Labour’s tangible efforts to improve life in the community, addressing concerns about local progress. He pointed to increased police presence following austerity, the introduction of low bus fares benefiting residents daily, and plans to extend the Metrolink tram-train through Denton to Ashton. While recognizing the community’s need for more investment and connectivity, Burnham asserted that Greater Manchester is the fastest-growing city region and a success story. He also announced that older and disabled people in Denton would gain unrestricted travel passes two weeks from February 14, eliminating the 9:30 restriction.

The Green Party’s Hannah Spencer raised concerns that residents in areas like Gorton and Denton were not experiencing the touted progress of Manchester as a fast-growing city. Burnham acknowledged this, reiterating his commitment to the Denton station service plan and highlighting the ongoing £2 bus fare, which is rare outside of London. Angeliki Stogia directly attacked the Green Party, accusing them of being “all talk and no action,” questioning their absence during local struggles, and dismissing their policies as “uncosted, unbudgeted, dreamt-up policies” that offer false promises to young people.

On a national level, the by-election campaign coincided with challenges to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership due to the