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Will Green byelection victory make Labour change course on benefits?

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The Green Party won a convincing victory in yesterday’s Gorton and Denton by election.  But will this make any of the parties change tack on issues such as benefits?

According to the Press Association, the final results were:

Hannah Spencer (Green) 14,980 (40.69%, +27.53%)

Matt Goodwin (Reform) 10,578 (28.73%, +14.67%)

Angeliki Stogia (Lab) 9,364 (25.44%, -25.32%)

Charlotte Cadden (C) 706 (1.92%, -5.98%)

Jackie Pearcey (LD) 653 (1.77%, -2.05%)

Reform have claimed that their failure to win the seat was down to “sectarian voting and cheating” rather than their policies.  

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell also seems to think it isn’t Labour’s policies but their failure to make them known that is the problem:  “we’ve got to get our politics clearer so people know that we are on their side, we are standing up for them.”

It seems very unlikely that Reform will do anything other than double down on their rhetoric against claimants in the run-up to May’s devolved and local elections.

But it does seem possible that Labour backbenchers will now be pushing hard for the party’s stance on a range of issues to move to the left in an effort to try to counter the Green surge.

At the very least, that may mean a softening of government rhetoric towards claimants in the run up to the May 7 local and devolved elections.

Should Labour fare as badly then, we may see a significant shift, not just in rhetoric, but also in policy relating to disability benefits.

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Andrew Ovens
    · 12 days ago
    The old parties are totally discredited it’s either green or reform people want change and two main parties are bought and paid for as are reform
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Asbo
      · 11 days ago
      @Andrew Ovens Reform? You are having a larf. They want to cut benefits 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    CC
    · 13 days ago
    If labour move to far left they will lose more support than they gain As most of the the voting public are just left or just right of that centre line for most things So moving to far left or right will not help Every party needs to get the balance right for their key supporters But still good enough to entice others to vote Add Labours poor decision making to the mix They seem stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea As making good decisions has not been really their thing 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Duncan
    · 13 days ago
    No chance , I truly have no idea who will look out for the rights of the sick and vulnerable, maybe the Geeens but I don't agree with their drugs stance, so again there really isn't anyone in power who cares about us 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Matt
    · 14 days ago
    An update on my employment law issue - see down the thread. 

    I'm still on sick leave. Last Wednesday had a call with a Solicitor, very good but bloody expensive!, who has suggested either a dignified exit from current employment, or additional reasonable adjustments. Given that my employers want me out...it'll be the dignified exit. Employment tribunals have a huge backlog, the payments are often quite modest, and the stress levels horrendous.

    I'm awaiting a call from GP (very good) to be prescribed antidepressants on Wednesday, and counselling services from Monday I'm Exeter, the dignified exit will be the right move. There are plenty of disability organisations in Exeter who can help, and it'll be great to meet new people going through similar situations. This will be so much better than working in a commercial call centre where everyone is stressed due to targets.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Wendy Woo
      · 10 days ago
      @Matt So sorry to hear of your employment struggles.  My son was forced to resign from his job last summer, but I wouldn't say it was a dignified exit, just the only choice he had left.  We spent some time trying to decide whether to take legal advice, but if employers don't want to follow the rules regarding disability, there isn't much you can do to force them, as you have found.

      He was fortunate enough to be offered a new job in January, but it didn't take long for one of his new colleagues to spot his "invisible" disability and start picking on him, so I don't know how long it will last.  So far, however, his employers have been very supportive and have already acknowledged the problem, but I never count on anything.

      The Government needs to understand that even the best employers will find it difficult to support workers with disabilities and small employers cannot afford to keep paying sick pay for long.  Many employers are not interested in employing people with disabilities at all, whatever they pretend and whatever the law states.  The phrase "disability confident" should be interpreted by everyone looking for a job as " whatever your disability, we are confident we can turn you down."   No-one should be forced back to work unless they choose, and it is no good trying to force sick or disabled people into jobs they cannot manage.

      Many disabled people would love to be given the chance to work, but the support they need to do so is similar to the support they needed for their education and the resources just aren't available and don't come as cheaply as Governments would wish.  The sort of jobs the Government is suggesting they should do just aren't suitable for most people with disabilities and could case further injuries.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    bronc
    · 20 days ago
    Sorry but I do not share your optimism about Labour moving to the Left. Starmer has purged the LP of its left wing after the coup which removed Corbyn. Most of its MPs are Starmerite careerists who all deserve to be booted out at the next election for their many failings. As a labour movement historian I say categorically that as a vehicle for progressive change the LP is dead and needs to be consigned to the dustbin of history. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Lizzy
      · 13 days ago
      @bronc I agree, Labour aren't listening.  I think there's a huge group of ex-Labour supporters, on the left, who will be moving to the Greens. Hopefully that will bring a change of view on benefits and welfare.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Lindsay
      · 13 days ago
      @bronc I haven’t voted for Labour since the days of Jim Callaghan but I agree, they are dead and they have dug their own grave
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ginny 52
    · 21 days ago
    I voted for Labour in the hope that my life might become less miserable. Nobody on a hundred pounds a year is going to understand constant hunger and worry.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Prawn cocktail
      · 21 days ago
      @Ginny 52 @Ginny 52That’s what everyone thought but Starmer moving to the right and being unprepared for government despite having 14 years to prepare and all the u turns meant it’s all turned into a shambles now next election will be between the greens and reform with Labour in 3rd place and maybe out of power for decades to come 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Copycat
    · 21 days ago
    Labour recently said they could team up with the Greens in the future,so their could be a Green and Labour coalition too stop Reform.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Lizzy
      · 13 days ago
      @LeeLawson https://news.sky.com/video/zack-polanski-starmer-not-a-man-i-would-be-willing-to-work-with-13467140
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 15 days ago
      @bronc Alot of young people and the Disabled will be voting for the Greens.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 16 days ago
      @bronc Yes Starmer not being the Labour leader was Polanski's only condition for the Greens doing a election deal with Labour at the next general election to stop Reform. 

      Starmer is not expected to remain as leader after the May local elections which are expected to be disastrous for Labour. And there is not a cat in hells chance Starmer will be the Labour leader at the next general election. So his one condition is rather meaningless as everyone expects it to be met. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 17 days ago
      @bronc Maybe?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      LeeLawson
      · 18 days ago
      @Copycat Source for this claim please?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Frances
    · 22 days ago
    If Reform say women who do not have children should have to pay higher taxes and should have children early in their adult lives, then surely they should welcome and support all children. So how come they're for the two child benefit cap? It's just beating up on women whatever.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    alzon
    · 23 days ago
    my personal view is that the using the stick for sickness benefit just forces people to never consider coming off them no matter what. 

    I mean has it ever crossed their minds that we have a mental health crisis in the UK because of the state of the country, especially for younger people who are facing long term levels of debt never seen before in this country.


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bronc
      · 20 days ago
      @alzon Let's not forget that this red tory government wants to cut benefits for disabled young people amongst many other attacks to come for disabled people claiming benefits. Starmer and co are in thrall to the super rich and will not abandon their attacks on the disabled unless they face public opposition.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 21 days ago
      @Matt In my experience Acas aren't neutral and will sway on the side of the employer.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 22 days ago
      @Dany Thanks. My immediate line manager has been in touch to advise I will only receive statutory sick rather than group sick pay because of a pending disciplinary meeting. It will mean I will have to go back to work next. I will contact ACAS for mediation now 

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dany
      · 22 days ago
      @Matt I have been through ACAS mediation, over a grievance I raised with my employed about disability discrimination and bullying. My employer settled with me before it went to tribunal. The lawyer I was given said that I could get a higher payout (there was a lot of written evidence, as well as witnesses) if I went to tribunal, but I just wanted it over so I accepted the settlement and moved on.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 22 days ago
      @Matt Yes,I have been through an Employment Tribunal used Acas and got my former employer to financially settle before court.Have you any questions,this was 20 years ago and I understand the Tribunal procedures have changed alot since then.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    CaroA
    · 24 days ago
    Great they won let's hope it will bring some decent change.  I like the lack of up and down thumbs.... Is this a mistake or hopefully an improvement!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bronc
      · 20 days ago
      @ Cheese and onion Same here. I come from a large ex Labour supporting family. I have never come across such intense dislike of the Labour Party. Labour has lost large sections of the working class never to get them back again. In my union, Unite which is Labour's biggest donor, there is massive anger with this red tory government. I hope my union decides to cut its links with Labour and pull the millions in funding for it. Long overdue.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      CaroA
      · 22 days ago
      @Yorry Thanks Yorry I realise I definitely miss the lack of up thumbs but think the removal of down thumbs would be fine by me!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Cheese and onion
      · 23 days ago
      @Yorry Yorry Praising Labour must be joking I’m never voting for them ever again and the labour council is putting council tax up next month in my area  thanks a lot 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Yorry
      · 23 days ago
      @CaroA I think the lack of thumbs up & down could be because 2 weeks ago most comments were praising Labour. Now everyone loves the Green Party! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 24 days ago
      @CaroA Oh, I enjoyed the up/down votes. No, i wasn't one of those down voters!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Treetop
    · 24 days ago
    Oh, how we enjoyed the Pantomime
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 24 days ago
    A clear Green win. When the polling companies said it would be close between Reform, Labour, Greens. The polling companies appear to have significantly under estimated the Green vote and significantly over estimated the Reform vote. That could be very good news if it turns out to be true nationally at the next general election.

    For the Gorton and Denton by-election.
    The polling companies had Reform at 27-36%. They got 28.7%
    The polling companies had Labour at 26-33%. They got 25.4%
    The polling companies had the Greens at 21-33%. They got 40.7%
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 19 days ago
      @bronc You say warmongering but Labour are having nothing to do with the Iran Conflict.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bronc
      · 20 days ago
      @John I'm not a green party member but I am pleased to see it thrashing Labour which has totally failed in office. I could write a book about its many failings from increasing the destruction of the NHS through greater privatisation to its warmongering foreign policy.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 25 days ago
    19.4% of the electorate bothered to turn up and vote for the Greens. Giving them a clear victory with 40.7% of the votes on a 47.6% turnout.

    In their election leaflets and campaign the Greens raised Gaza and Labour's friendly relationship with India's Prime Minister Modi. And the Greens had election leaflets in multiple languages. About 28% of the electorate in Gorton and Denton are Muslim. The Greens won with 19.4% of the electorate voting Green.

    Labour also went on about the Greens being sectarian for having leaflets in multiple languages and raising issues that particularly concern Muslims. And Labour has also gone about illegal family voting, where more than one person is in the voting booth. Despite election officials and the police saying illegal family voting was not an issue they were aware off.

    Labour like Reform appear to be blaming Muslims for losing. Not their welfare and disability benefits policies.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bronc
      · 20 days ago
      @John Labour has lost massive support in the Muslim community for aiding the Israeli genocide in Gaza. That support is not going back to Labour which is now supporting Trump's illegal war against Iran.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mark
    · 25 days ago
    I did wonder if “Reform UK” would claim the vote was stolen. Proves the mentality of the party and how aligned they are with Trump. If you want to see what will happen to this country under “Reform UK” just look to America. 

    Will they turn the agencies of the state on their perceived enemies? Denounce every judge as an activist if they rule against them? Ignoring their own hypocrisy when they prasise the activist judge who rules in their favour? Make a fool of themselves on the international stage? Threaten countries with tariffs? Start rounding up “undersirable” groups of people? Reinstating the death penalty? And on and on.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Helen Galloway
      · 23 days ago
      @John As a woman I would never vote for Reform under any circumstances under pain of death… 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 24 days ago
      @Mark Reform are funny. Their candidate said ethnic minorities who have British citizenship are not British. Said schools should teach girls they should have children early in their adult lives. And said that women who do not have children should have to pay higher taxes as a penalty for not procreating. Now claims women were coerced into not voting for Reform by their menfolk. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    diceman50
    · 25 days ago
    The tories lost their deposit it’s good to see them down in the doldrums nowadays after all the misery and cruelty they inflicted 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Wendy Woo
    · 25 days ago
    The proposed changes to SEND education should prove a step in the right direction for children and young people.  Hopefully a kinder, more inclusive approach to all people with disabilities will follow.  All parties need to realise that it is counter-productive not to provide the right support for disabled people, both young and old, and restricting this will cost more money in the long run.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Wendy Woo
      · 21 days ago
      @John Hello, John.  I take your point, but I hope you're mistaken.  I'm afraid I don't have any experience of EHCPs, but my son had a Statement of Special Educational Needs when he was at school.  Unfortunately, having a legal document in place is no guarantee of the right support or, indeed, of any kind of support at all - certainly not when nearly everyone in authority is actively fighting against it.  Maybe things have improved with the introduction of EHCPs, but I'm hoping early intervention in the future will ensure better outcomes for all children with disabilities without the need for the kind of protracted unarmed combat necessary to secure an education or even just to be allowed to remain in school.  Best wishes.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 24 days ago
      @Wendy Woo The proposed changes to SEND education appear to reduce the number of pupils who will have a EHCP which gives them a legal right to support. By limiting EHCP'S to only those with the most complexed needs. So could result in less support for most. 

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