Polanski passes as Labour MPs attack Starmer's Burnham betrayal

The Green Party has confirmed that Zack Polanski will not be standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection:

Excl: Zack Polanski will not stand as the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

A Green Party source told @NewStatesman that whoever is chosen as the party’s candidate will be selected by the local party.

— megan kenyon (@meganekenyon) January 25, 2026

The update comes after we learned Labour has blocked Andy Burnham from running in the same byelection. As we’ll show, the party’s decision to block the ‘king in the north’ from returning to parliament is going down like a plate of cold sick.

Polanski — Local democracy

While Labour descends into chaos following the Burnham decision, Polanski is promoting the positive ground game that the Greens have in Gorton & Denton:

Delighted to see members of the Green Party hitting the doorsteps in Gorton & Denton already.

We offer a strong alternative to this failing Labour Govenrment – and just shuffling the deckchairs isn't going to cut it.

Join us: https://t.co/Q27Jy5eX7z https://t.co/qj5T9Q2MYh

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 24, 2026

Given that Labour has opted not to run Greater Manchester’s most popular politician, they’re clearly not serious about winning in Gorton & Denton. Polanski argues this means the Greens are the only real alternative to Reform:

It's clear that the Green Party are the way to keep Reform out of Manchester.

We are already on the ground in Gorton and Denton – and we are going to be campaigning for every single vote.

A new Green MP representing the community.

Let's go!https://t.co/0qbagSvIYp

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 25, 2026

Labour have blown it. This is it. Time to take on Reform.

Manchesters first Green MP is coming. Join us to help get them elected on Saturday.https://t.co/pTo5QEJ2Nj pic.twitter.com/5ILvtXd4iQ

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 25, 2026

Green Deputy leader Mothin Ali said:

Andy Burnham Blocked from Standing.

Starmer and McSweeney block democracy of the people so they can protect their friends and their interests.

Gorton & Denton deserves better than career politicians who play games while our communities struggle.

When working class people get pushed aside, it’s time for someone who actually understands our streets, our struggles, and our solidarity.

The people of Gorton & Denton know what’s at stake. And so do I.

As we reported on 24 January, Your Party are also planning to give local members a choice over who runs to be their MP. When announcing this, Zarah Sultana showed she has no love for Andy Burnham, who served in the neoliberal governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown:

Andy Burnham played a key role in privatising our NHS while serving as Health Secretary.

Andy Burnham voted for the 2003 Iraq War — an illegal invasion that led to the deaths of over a million Iraqis.

Andy Burnham was a member of Labour Friends of Israel, an apartheid state…

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) January 24, 2026

Back to the Labour Party, the few left-wing politicians left are reacting as follows to Starmer’s Burnham stitch up:

Keir Starmer and his clique have shown they’re prepared to lose Gorton and Denton to Reform – just to protect narrow factional interests.

It's weak leadership – and will only deepen the crisis the party is in.

There should now be an emergency NEC meeting to resolve this mess.

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) January 25, 2026

In the most unsurprising turn of events, some Labour right apparatchiks care more about settling personal scores than winning elections after all.

Even if it means risking gifting Reform another seat in Parliament.

They’re destroying the only electoral vehicle currently capable…

— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) January 25, 2026

Blocking Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton is a serious political and democratic error.

Local Labour members should have the right to decide who represents them. Taking that decision out of their hands reinforces exactly the sense of distance and control that is… https://t.co/dNGhDMEyzW

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) January 25, 2026

Keir Starmer and his inner circle are prepared to gift Gorton and Denton to Reform if it means protecting their own factional interests.

That’s not leadership it’s weakness, and it’s an insult to Labour members and the working class communities we exist to serve.

This reckless…

— lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) January 25, 2026

Labour in retreat

Clearly, Labour cares more about shielding Starmer from criticism than it does about stopping the growth of Reform. With that in mind, anyone who cares about the future of this country should rule out Labour as a serious contender in the Gorton & Denton byelection.

Featured image via Barold