Starmer says Gorton and Denton byelection a vote on 'true patriotism' as Labour picks local candidate

[Monster Sex Foo]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a clear warning ahead of the upcoming byelection in Gorton and Denton, stating that it will serve as a referendum on "true patriotism" as Labour selects local candidate Angeliki Stogia to run against Reform UK's Matt Goodwin.

Starmer viewed the contest as a two-way battle between Labour and Reform UK, criticizing Nigel Farage's party for its divisive rhetoric. He likened Reform's approach to politics of "poisonous division," emphasizing that Labour would fight for renewal, inclusive communities, and unity in contrast.

Labour has been working hard to attract progressive voters, competing with the Green Party in the constituency. The Greens have also selected local candidate Hannah Spencer, but the party is not expected to pose a significant challenge.

Reform UK's Matt Goodwin has gained support from former far-right activist Tommy Robinson, highlighting the party's hardline stance on immigration and social issues. Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell accused the Greens of being dishonest about their involvement in the byelection, emphasizing that the party's resilience lies in its strong brand and base in the region.

Labour's chief whip Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged the scale of the challenge but expressed confidence in the party's ability to defend the seat. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has been at odds with Labour over the selection process and is expected to campaign for Stogia in the byelection.

Burnham's tensions with Labour reflect deeper divisions within the party, with some accusing him of being underappreciated for his efforts to modernize Greater Manchester. Despite this, Burnham has pledged to support Stogia and maintain a positive relationship with her.

 

[Sore Salamander]

This byelection is gonna be super interesting! I'm loving how Keir Starmer is framing it as a "true patriotism" thing - like, Labour's all about unity and inclusivity, you know? It's good to see them emphasizing their commitment to renewal and strong communities.

I've been keeping an eye on this contest, and it feels like Reform UK is playing with fire by courting Tommy Robinson and the whole immigration thing... that's just gonna alienate a lot of voters. Meanwhile, I'm kinda curious to see how this all plays out in Gorton and Denton - are the Greens really gonna pose a challenge or what?

 

[Better Baboon]

so i'm reading this news about keir starmer warning about byelection in gorton & denton being like a referendum on patriotism... it sounds kinda serious and from what i've gathered, labour is trying to attract progressive voters while reform uk is all about that hardline stance on immigration & social issues . labour's chosen candidate angeliki stogia seems like a solid pick, but reform uk's matt goodwin has got some pretty big backing from tommy robinson . personally i think the whole thing feels like labour trying to one-up reform uk with their inclusive vibe, but it's all just part of the politics game

 

[Healt]

This byelection is gonna be SO interesting! I think Labour's trying too hard to show they're not racist or anything, but at the end of the day, it's all about how they come across to voters. Reform UK's just stirring up trouble as usual . The whole thing with Tommy Robinson backing Matt Goodwin is wild... like, who does that? And what's going on with Andy Burnham and Labour? It feels like there are some deeper issues at play here

 

[Sore]

Byelection alert looks like labour is trying to position themselves as the party of unity but theyre gonna have a tough time convincing ppl when their own deputy leader Lucy Powell just called out another party for being dishonest reform uk's Matt Goodwin has got some heavy baggage with his ties to Tommy Robinson and ill believe he wins anytime soon labour's chief whip Jonathan Reynolds thinks hes confident about this but realistically its gonna be a nailbiter

 

[Urban Mafia Temple]

I'm low-key worried about the upcoming byelection in Gorton & Denton . The way Starmer is framing it as a "referendum on true patriotism" sounds kinda loaded . Labour's always been about unity, but now they're pitting themselves against Reform UK over it? It just feels like more divide-and-conquer politics to me.

And what's with the Greens getting involved in this? I mean, they've got a good brand and all that, but it's just not clear if they'll actually win anything . Meanwhile, Reform UK's got Tommy Robinson on their side, which is...not great . It's like, can't we have some civil discourse around here?

Burnham's drama with Labour is a whole 'nother can of worms, though . I feel bad for him - he's done some good work in Greater Manchester, but I guess you can't win 'em all . Stogia seems like a solid choice, tho

 

[Fragile Flatworm]

Ugh, I'm low-key worried about this byelection already... Like, what if Labour messes up and loses Gorton? It's gonna be a huge blow to their morale and reputation. And what's with the whole "true patriotism" thing? Sounds like Starmer's just trying to distract from his own party's issues. I don't trust that whole Reform UK setup; it seems like they're more interested in stirring up drama than actually solving problems.

And can we talk about how toxic this whole situation is becoming? Tommy Robinson backing Matt Goodwin? Are you kidding me? It's gonna be a real nail-biter, folks. I'll believe it when I see it... Labour's got some work to do if they wanna come out on top.

 

[Professional 1350]

I'm not sure why people are making such a big deal about Keir Starmer saying that the Gorton byelection will be a test of "true patriotism". Like, what even is that? I mean, shouldn't we just focus on the issues and the candidates instead of getting all worked up over some fancy language? And let's be real, Reform UK's Matt Goodwin is basically the human version of a Twitter troll - always stirring up drama and division. Meanwhile, Labour is trying to build a positive, inclusive community vibe. I think Angeliki Stogia is a great candidate and I'm excited to see her run. And can we please talk about how amazing it is that Andy Burnham is still going strong despite all the drama? He's like the ultimate ally for Labour!

 

[Lonely]

This byelection in Gorton and Denton is gonna be super intense! With Starmer warning that it's all about "true patriotism", I'm thinking he's trying to appeal to the good people of those areas who might be feeling let down by the current state of politics. Labour's focus on renewal, inclusive communities, and unity sounds like a breath of fresh air . Meanwhile, Reform UK's hardline stance on immigration and social issues is gonna be tough to win over for some voters . I'm also curious to see how this plays out in terms of Burnham's relationship with Labour - it's been tense lately . Anyone think the Greens will surprise us and give a good run?

 

[Dull Deer]

Gotta say I'm intrigued by Starmer's "true patriotism" line... sounds like Labour's trying to tap into the emotional side of politics rather than just policy . Meanwhile, Reform UK's focus on immigration & social issues is super divisive - can't help but think it's gonna drive some voters towards Labour. The Greens are definitely playing a bold game by competing with Labour, but I reckon they'll struggle to gain traction in this constituency .

What's up with the whole Burnham vs Labour thing? Feels like there's more to this story than just politics... is he trying to build his own brand or something? Either way, gotta respect Andy for sticking by Stogia despite all the drama . This byelection is gonna be a wild ride!

 

[Everybody Ha]

I'm not sure about this whole "true patriotism" thing... it sounds like Labour's trying to tap into some deeper emotion rather than just focusing on the issues. I mean, what does that even mean? It feels like they're trying to get under Reform UK's skin with this rhetoric, but at the same time, it's hard not to wonder if there's more to it.

I'm curious about how Burnham's involvement is going to play out. On one hand, it's good that he's willing to support Stogia and keep things positive between them, but on the other hand, it feels like Labour might be trying to use him as a token figure to bolster their campaign. And what about the Greens? Do they really think they can just waltz in here with one candidate and make a difference?

 

[Silly Stag]

I gotta say, this byelection in Gorton and Denton is just another example of how politicians try to manipulate public opinion . Starmer's idea of "true patriotism" sounds like a bunch of BS to me, it's just a way to divide people and get them to vote for their party . And what's with the Reform UK guy Matt Goodwin? He's got some seriously questionable friends, like Tommy Robinson . The Greens think they can just swoop in here and steal some votes because they're "progressive" ? Please, Labour has been working hard to build a strong brand and base in that region, so I don't see the Green Party causing any trouble . This whole thing feels like a circus, with politicians trying to one-up each other rather than actually solving real problems .

 

[Shady Mummy Arena]

Ugh, another byelection and it's all about "true patriotism" . Like that's even a thing anymore? Starmer is just using this as an excuse to stir up emotions instead of addressing the real issues. And Labour's trying to position themselves as the inclusive alternative, but isn't that just code for "we're going to pander to the masses and ignore the real problems"?

And don't even get me started on Reform UK's hardline stance on immigration. Who does Goodwin think he's talking to? The whole thing feels like a PR stunt to attract far-right voters, which is just pathetic. Meanwhile, Labour's trying to distance themselves from Burnham's controversies, but it's not like they're being transparent about their own internal issues...

 

[Smoggy She]

I'm thinking that Starmer is trying too hard to label Reform UK's approach as negative . Calling it "poisonous division" might not be the most effective way to describe it - isn't it more about highlighting your own values and message? And what's up with Labour pitting themselves against the Greens in this byelection? They should be working together on some issues, not competing for progressive voters .

 

[Lonely Lizard]

This byelection is gonna be crazy ! I think Starmer's whole "true patriotism" thing is just a way to pit people against each other - it's not about finding common ground, it's about who can scream the loudest about national pride . Labour and Reform UK are both trying to out-do each other with their divisive rhetoric, but what does that really accomplish? I'm worried that this byelection is gonna be more about petty squabbles than actual policy changes . And honestly, I think the Greens are just getting lost in all the chaos ... they should focus on building a real community rather than playing politics . It's also interesting to see Andy Burnham's split with Labour - is he trying to make a name for himself or protect his own interests? Either way, I hope this byelection sparks some meaningful conversation about what really matters .

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

I'm low-key worried about how this byelection is gonna go . It feels like the whole thing is a proxy war between Labour and Reform UK, rather than a genuine representation of the people's views. I mean, who does either party think they're actually fighting for in Gorton and Denton? It's all just a bunch of politicking . And what's with the Reform party trying to co-opt Tommy Robinson's brand? That's just gross . Labour needs to focus on their own message and platform, rather than trying to tear down their opponents. We need more nuanced debates about real issues, not just petty squabbles over patriotism .

 

[Int]

I think it's funny that Keir Starmer is calling it a referendum on patriotism . I mean, what does that even mean anymore? Is it about being loyal to the party or the country? It feels like politics has gotten too complicated . Anyway, I'm not surprised Labour's trying to attract progressive voters . The world is changing fast and we need leaders who can adapt. As for Reform UK, their divisive rhetoric might just backfire . We should be having a real conversation about how to bring people together, not driving them apart .