Labour MPs have reportedly accused Keir Starmer of being “selfish” and urged him to “go for the good of the UK” following a bruising by-election result.
The backlash comes after the Labour Party was pushed into third place in Gorton & Denton — previously considered one of the party’s safest seats.
The seat was won by Hannah Spencer, becoming the fifth MP for the Green Party of England and Wales.
The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the party, whose deputy leader, Zack Polanski, has been central to its recent push in its campaign.
Meanwhile, Reform UK also made strong gains, contributing to Labour’s slide into third place.
The result has triggered unrest within Labour ranks, with some MPs reportedly questioning Starmer’s leadership strategy and electoral direction.
Despite the fact that Labour has suffered a heavy defeat in Gorton & Denton by-election to the Greens, a defiant Starmer has pledged that he will “keep on fighting.”
Starmer told GB News: “Incumbent governments quite often get results like that mid-term, but I do understand that voters are frustrated, they’re impatient for change.
“I came into politics late in life, as it happens, to fight for change for those people need it.
The people who need an NHS that works for them, to be able to doctors appointment when they need it, to get the money they need in their pockets to pay their bills, and to have decent and better life.
“I will keep on fighting for those people as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman added: “Sir Keir Starmer made a selfish decision in blocking Andy Burnham from standing, and it’s yet another example of him and his advisors making bad judgement calls.
“The Labour Party has been taken in the wrong direction by trying to out-Reform Reform…He has to go for the good of Labour, Scotland and the UK.”
Jon Trickett, the party’s MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, said: “I think [the byelection result] signals a bigger change in the way that people see the country, its politics and its leaders, Labour absolutely must reflect on this in a serious way.
“That does mean, I’m afraid, that the Prime Minister needs to reflect on his own position.”
Nadia Whittome said: “Our party has just come third in Gorton and Denton, a previously safe Labour seat, an area where we haven’t lost an election since 1931.
“It is those running our party who are to blame. We need change at the top and serious lessons need to be learnt.
The Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “This result shows Keir Starmer’s premiership is finished.
“He lost authority a long time ago, a mere hostage at the mercy of a divided Labour Party that cannot decide who to replace him with. He has lost the support of his voters, his MPs and the country.
“He is in office but not in power. If he had any integrity he would go.”
The Tory leader added: “Our country is not broken, but this by-election showed that Labour, Reform and the Greens are trying very hard to break it.
“Labour trying to buy people off with more and more benefits spending. Reform telling people you can’t be British if you aren’t white.
“The Greens running a nasty, sectarian campaign while simultaneously wanting to legalise crack-cocaine. Clearly this election was not about who would be the best MP.”
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