Labour is scrambling to hang on in the Gorton & Denton by-election with signs the hard-Left Greens could pull off a shock win.
Keir Starmer‘s activists are bracing for a final blitz before votes are cast tomorrow in a traditional stronghold.
But despite the PM’s desperate efforts to paint the contest as a straight fight with Reform, a poll has suggested the Greens have a narrow advantage.
The Opinium research put the party on 30 per cent support among people who were very likely to vote – with Labour and Reform just behind on 28 per cent.
All the figures were within the margin of error, and constituency-level polling always comes with a health warning as it is very difficult to conduct accurately.
However, Labour figures will be dismayed that efforts to unite left-wing voters against Nigel Farage‘s insurgents look to be stumbling.
Sir Keir’s fate could hang on the outcome, after he barely survived a coup a fortnight ago. The premier blocked Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from being Labour’s candidate, amid concerns he could be a leadership challenger in the House of Commons.
Keir Starmer visited Gorton & Denton on Monday but was carefully surrounded by Labour activists, candidate Angeliki Stogia (right) and his deputy Lucy Powell inside a sports centre
Labour MPs and ministers are expected to flood the Manchester seat over the next 48 hours, in a bid to salvage the campaign.
Sir Keir himself visited on Monday, but was humiliatingly kept well away from ordinary voters amid alarm at his dire personal ratings.
Zack Polanski’s party is bullish about its prospects despite mounting fears over hard-Left policies.
The Greens want to legalise hard drugs, decriminalise prostitution and operate an effective open door immigration policy.
They have also backed paying Britain paying reparations for the slave trade.
By-election literature has targeted the significant Muslim vote in the constituency, including focusing on Gaza.
Other polls have also pointed to an incredibly tight three-way race in Gorton & Denton, although some have questioned their methodology.
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Zack Polanski (left) is bullish about the prospects of Green candidate Hannah Spencer (right)
Reform candidate Matt Goodwin has branded the by-election a referendum on Sir Keir’s leadership, as the PM struggles to cling on in No10
Sir Keir only carried out a token campaign stop on Monday, carefully surrounded by Labour activists, candidate Angeliki Stogia and his deputy Lucy Powell inside a sports centre.
Despite aides insisting he would be meeting voters, there is no evidence that happened.
He did speak to Mr Burnham but there were no images of the encounter.
Reform candidate Matt Goodwin has branded the by-election a referendum on Sir Keir’s leadership, as the PM struggles to cling on in No10.
