Three-way fight goes to the wire in Gorton & Denton

As polling day draws closer, the contest in Gorton & Denton appears to be a tight three-way race. Polling by Opinium Research, released on Tuesday evening, shows the Greens and Labour with a narrow lead, both sitting on 28%, with Reform just a point behind on 27%. Some will have already cast their vote through postal voting, but many will be heading to one of the 45 polling stations that are in the constituency.

Labour has held onto this seat in its various boundary configurations since 1918, and it would be a seismic shift should they lose it to either Reform UK or the Green Party.

They have brought some big names for its final day of canvassing before the polling stations open, former party leader Ed Miliband has been in the constituency today, as well as its current deputy Lucy Powell, who has been a heavy presence in this short campaign, supporting the party candidate Angeliki Storgia.

Powell made it clear this afternoon that, in her view, it is a fight between Labour and Reform for the seat, with no mention of the Greens.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made a brief visit on Monday afternoon; it would have been on the surprising side if the PM hadn’t visited the constituency before polling day.

Ed Miliband speaking in-front of Labour Party activists with Lucy Powell (left) and Angeliki Storgia (right) (Credit: Roch Valley Radio)

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has made several visits to the constituency since the ballot was called last month.

The party has set up its campaign headquarters close to Denton railway station, which is a part of the seat that has gained much commentary in recent weeks, as many candidates have committed to improving its two train services a week.

When we visited the HQ last week, Matt Goodwin and his team had a regimented schedule of canvassing with plenty of boots on the ground, and that’s expected to continue into the final hours before the polling stations.

Goodwin has said the area has been left behind by Westminster in a video on his social media account this morning, calling on voters to send a message to Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. 

Matt Goodwin chatting to party activists at Reform UK campaign HQ in Denton. (Credit: Reform UK)

The Green Party has had its activists on the ground from all around the country; one member from Exeter has stayed in the constituency for the duration of the campaign to support candidate Hannah Spencer.

Party leader Zack Polanski has been a presence throughout, knocking on doors as recently as Tuesday.

They are aiming to knock on 10,000 doors throughout today, as well as delivering a newspaper-style leaflet to every house in the constituency. 

Green Party banner on the side of a road in Longsight. (Credit: Roch Valley Radio)

Some describe this as a contest between the Greens and Reform; others insist Labour remains firmly in the fight. With margins this tight, however, it is simply too close to call, and until the returning officer declares the result in the early hours of Friday morning, the outcome remains uncertain.

You can view a full list of candidates running for this seat by clicking here.