Andy Burnham Leadership Challenge Blocked
- The Gorton and Denton constituency, historically a Labour stronghold, experienced a meaningful victory for the party in the 2024 general election.
- Gorton and Denton is a parliamentary constituency in Greater Manchester,England.
- The constituency was created in 2010, replacing the former constituencies of Denton and Reddish and Gorton.
Andy Burnham has been blocked from standing as a candidate for an upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labor’s ruling body.
As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), after he applied to be a candidate on Saturday.
But Labour said the party had decided to deny Burnham permission to stand to “avoid an needless mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost-of-living crisis”.
The Gorton and Denton constituency, historically a Labour stronghold, experienced a meaningful victory for the party in the 2024 general election. However, recent shifts in public opinion suggest potential challenges from Reform UK and the Green party in future elections.
Gorton and Denton Constituency
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Gorton and Denton is a parliamentary constituency in Greater Manchester,England. It covers parts of the towns of Denton and Gorton, and also areas of Audenshaw, Droylsden, and Hyde.
The constituency was created in 2010, replacing the former constituencies of Denton and Reddish and Gorton. It is indeed currently represented in the House of Commons by Andrew Gwynne of the Labour Party.
2024 General Election Results
The Labour Party won the Gorton and Denton seat in the 2024 general election with a majority of 13,000 votes.
Andrew Gwynne received 28,888 votes, defeating Conservative candidate Catherine Firth who received 15,888 votes. Reform UK candidate Michael Lawrance came in third with 4,499 votes, and the green Party’s Emily heath received 3,488 votes.
- Andrew Gwynne (Labour): 28,888 votes
- Catherine Firth (Conservative): 15,888 votes
- Michael Lawrance (Reform UK): 4,499 votes
- Emily Heath (Green): 3,488 votes
Source: Electoral calculus
Constituency Profile
The constituency has a diverse demographic profile, with a significant proportion of residents employed in manufacturing, health, and education. The area faces challenges related to economic regeneration and social mobility.
According to the Office for National Statistics, as of mid-2021, the population of the Gorton and Denton constituency was estimated at 112,800.
Shifting Political Landscape
as the 2024 general election, Labour’s national polling numbers have declined, raising concerns about their ability to maintain their majority in Gorton and Denton.
The rise of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, and the increasing support for the Green Party, particularly among younger voters, present a credible challenge to Labour’s dominance in the constituency. Recent local election results in Greater Manchester have shown gains for both parties.
As of January 25, 2026, there have been no parliamentary by-elections held in Gorton and Denton since the 2024 general election. The next general election is expected to be held no later than January 2029, according to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (repealed in March 2022, but influencing expectations). Parliament UK