Labour announces candidate for Gorton and Denton by-election

Labour has announced its candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, as parties begin campaigning to win the Greater Manchester seat.

The party confirmed that Angeliki Stogia will stand for Labour in the by-election, which was triggered following Andrew Gwynne’s resignation earlier this month. The poll is expected to take place on February 26.

The Gorton and Denton seat covers communities across both Manchester and Tameside boroughs and has traditionally been a Labour stronghold.

Other candidates that have been announced are Matt Goodwin for Reform UK, Hannah Spencer for the Green Party, Jackie Pearcey for the Liberal Democrats and Sebastian Moore for the Social Democratic Party.

Ms Stogia is a Labour councillor for the Whalley Range ward.

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."

Flanked by Labour party chairwoman Anna Turley and deputy leader Lucy Powell, Stogia said: "This is about Manchester. Manchester is a city united, we are rejecting division. 

"I am so looking forward to going out on the doorstep and winning this for Labour."

Residents eligible to vote are being reminded to ensure they are registered ahead of the deadline and to consider applying for a postal vote if they are unable to attend a polling station in person.