Greens become bookies’ fave in Manchester after Workers Party pulls out

The Workers Party of Britain have dramatically pulled out of the Gorton and Denton by-election. In a post on social media, they announced:

This decision is taken in the best interests of the working-class. Labour and Reform must lose.

And, this looks like fantastic news for the Greens:

The Greens have now gone odds on to win the upcoming by-election in Gorton & Denton.

Here's how we bet:

Greens – 10/11
Reform UK – 13/8
Labour – 4/1
Lib Dems – 200/1
Conservatives – 200/1https://t.co/nakHgF38Xb https://t.co/TzESpNG9ZR

— Ladbrokes Politics (@LadPolitics) February 1, 2026

Greens given an even bigger chance for change

The Workers Party was first established in December 2019 by George Galloway, and the party is known for having leanings which are both socialist and socially conservative. During the last election, they secured 10% of the vote in Gorton & Denton.

Galloway’s party has now stepped down, saying the decision is in the best interests of the working-class, and that both Labour and Reform must lose. The party has claimed Labour are the enemy of the British people, stating people have become poorer whilst they’ve been in office.

This comes at a vital time for the Greens, whose very public fight with Reform makes this a crucial test for both parties. The Workers Party dropping out of the race means there’s potentially 10% of the vote up for grabs. And with Reform projected to get 30% of the vote, this couldn’t come at a better time:

This is genuinely massive.

The Workers Party won nearly as many votes as the Greens in Gorton & Denton at the last election.

The Greens still have to fight for those votes, but this greatly increases their odds – and ability to claim they're best placed to stop Reform. https://t.co/TAppKuccIu

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) February 1, 2026

Many have praised the Workers Party for pulling out:

Well done to the Workers Party for taking this principled decision.

Now is the time to focus on defeating Labour and Reform, and we do that by uniting behind the Greens https://t.co/wxgSlf5CFK

— The Muslim Vote (@themuslimvoteuk) February 1, 2026

No Workers Party candidate will stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

A major advantage for the Green Party. Very surprised!

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) February 1, 2026

Heating up

This must have been a difficult decision for the Workers Party, with the Greens recognising the party stepping down:

Only Greens can beat Reform in this Gorton and Denton by-election. pic.twitter.com/MFYho5vxpw

— The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) February 1, 2026

With the race heating up, this step taken by the Workers Party avoids splitting the left vote and gives the Greens a better chance of getting the votes needed to win. The question is, will that 10% of voters choose to side with the socialist Green party or the socially conservative Reform?

Time will tell.

Featured image via Parliament / Parliament / Barold