Greens' stunning by-election win proves Polanski surge is real - but what now for Starmer?

At the wedding venue in Gorton and Denton the Green Party chose for the news conference to mark a seismic by-election victory on national television, it was clear that Zack Polanski and his team were new to all of this.

There was a sea of empty chairs and but a smattering of supporters in a huge, near-deserted room. Seasoned operators - be it Nigel Farage, Sir Keir Starmer or Ed Davey - would have had the placards lifted and the activists cheering, but Polanski and his new MP, Hannah Spencer, enjoyed just a smattering of applause as they took to the stage.

Politics latest: Police confirm report made over 'family voting' claims But, make no mistake, if the celebration was muted in the moment, the implications of the result are absolutely mega. The Green Party went from third in this seat at the 2024 General Election to winning by 4,400 votes over Reform UK, and overturning Labour's 13,000 majority with a whopping 26 percentage point swing.

It was only the 18th time in 100 years that a party had come from third to take a seat, and the Greens clocked up 40% of the vote. It was a stunning victory that proved the Polanski surge is real and that the Greens are a serious threat to Labour's left flank.

Starmer ran a campaign claiming that only Labour could beat Reform. This by-election proved that wrong.

Read more:Analysis: This is a parliamentary result for the agesGorton and Denton by-election 'cheating' claim explained Greens can argue they can beat Reform in working-class Britain Now the Greens can argue that they are the party that can beat Reform in working-class Britain as Polanski positions the party firmly on Labour's left. It is a nightmare for Labour as it finds itself fighting on two fronts.

Starmer's stony face as he addressed the country on Friday said more than a thousand words could: the Greens, like Reform, are emerging as a serious, seat-winning electoral force. Had Reform won, Starmer could have used it as proof that voting for the Greens was a waste of time.

Instead, he now has to try to prove to Labour voters why they should stick with him rather than tack to the left with the Greens. Starmer recriminated after results In the hours after the results, the recriminations began.

Angela Rayner, the former deputy leader, said the result was a "wake-up call" that showed the party needed to be "braver" as she seemed to voice what many MPs think: that Labour needs to move more to the left. The unions also piled in with Sharon Graham of Unite saying Labour needed to "stop listening to rich mates and listen to everyday people" while Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said Labour has to change course and its "us versus Reform" strategy "is in tatters.