Labour reveals Gorton and Denton candidate after Andy Burnham blocked from standing in by-election

Labour have revealed their candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Angeliki Stogia, a Manchester City councillor, will contend with Reform's Matthew Goodwin, Green councillor Hannah Spencer, and Lib Dem local campaigner Jackie Pearcey.

It comes after Labour last week decided to block Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham from standing for the seat, vacated by Andrew Gwynne.

The election is set to take place on February 26, after suspended Labour MP Mr Gwynne announced he was stepping down.

Labour won the seat more than 50 per cent of the vote, in 2024, by a majority of 13,000.

Nigel Farage's Reform came second with 14 per cent - 5,142 - with Greens in third after 4,810 votes.

Ms Stogia, who is a Labour councillor for the Whalley Range ward, said she was "so looking forward to going out on the doorstep and winning".

As her candidacy was announced, she told a crowd of party activists: "I am absolutely thrilled and excited, and I want to thank everyone who came to the hustings.

"I am a proud Mancunian woman. I have walked the streets of this constituency."

Ms Stogia is originally from Greece, but moved to Manchester more than 30 years ago and is a British citizen.

Ms Stogia's page on the Labour website reads: "When the Conservative / Lib Dem coalition government came to power in 2010, I like many others wanted to get more involved in politics to fight against their plans, and in 2011 I put myself forward to become a Manchester City Councillor.

"Thanks to the support of the Whalley Range voters I won the election and so proudly became the first ever Manchester Councillor of Greek heritage."

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