The spiked podcast Gorton and Denton: has Reform rattled Labour?
Jan 30, 2026
Reem Ibrahim, policy commentator and researcher, joins to unpack the Gorton and Denton by-election. They examine Labour’s handling of Andy Burnham and NEC drama. The conversation covers Reform’s insurgency, boundary and demographic impacts, the Muslim vote shifting to the Greens, and controversies from WhatsApp scandals to high-profile defections.
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By-Election As Political Mirror
- Gorton and Denton is a microcosm of UK political fault lines, including Reform insurgency and a split left vote.
- The contest tests Reform's strength and Labour's weakness after a scandal-triggered by-election.
Resignation Triggered By WhatsApp Scandal
- The seat opened when Andrew Gwyn resigned on mental health grounds after a WhatsApp scandal.
- Reem Ibrahim recalls Gwyn was a longtime, effective Labour MP and finds his removal over private jokes extreme.
Blocking Burnham Reveals Labour Fragility
- Blocking Andy Burnham from standing exposed Keir Starmer's control anxieties and made him look weak.
- The move suggests Labour prioritised consolidating power over open contests.