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politics1d ago
I see two things in Gorton and Denton: palpable frustration and the need for wise voting to stop Reform | Polly Toynbee
- The Gorton and Denton byelection could reshape the left’s strategy against Reform UK by testing Labour-Green unity.
- Labour’s performance in the area is crucial, with a potential win seen as calming nerves on the party’s front benches.
- A loss could place blame on leadership decisions, including the NEC’s rule changes that blocked Burnham’s path to leadership.
- Anti-Reform votes could be split, risking a Reform UK victory under first-past-the-post without a clear anti-Reform signal.
- The campaign is tinged by debates over national issues like disability benefits, winter fuel, and electoral reform.
- Far-right demonstrations loom, intensifying the left’s imperative to unify against extremism in Manchester.
- Voters’ doorstep conversations reveal mixed views, from support for Burnham to frustration with Labour’s direction.
- Burnham is a prominent figure on the ground, lobbying for Angeliki Stogia and mobilizing local networks.
- The by-election is framed as a test of Labour’s ability to win back a traditional red stronghold.
- The piece notes local issues like bus fares, NHS waiting times, and the living wage as part of Labour’s appeal.
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