Powell and Miliband rally support for Labour ahead of polling day

Senior Labour figures descended on Rushford Park in the Gorton and Denton constituency today as the party made its final push before polling stations open tomorrow in what has become a closely fought by-election.

Lucy Powell, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, joined Labour’s candidate Angeliki Stogia to rally activists and voters, declaring the contest a “straight fight” and urging supporters to turn out.

Addressing campaigners, Powell said Labour was ready for polling day.

“We are ready for polling day tomorrow. This is a massive by-election, and we are in this by-election to win,” she said.

She warned that the contest had narrowed in its final stages.

“This is now a straight fight between us and Reform. A vote for any other party is going to risk letting Reform win in this seat.”

Powell said Labour had a strong record to defend on the cost of living and introduced Miliband as the person best placed to make that case.

Miliband told supporters there were “less than 24 hours to go till the polls open” and praised Stogia’s campaign.

“Angeliki, we are so proud of you,” he said. “In this by-election, we are fighting, first of all, to have the best person to be the Member of Parliament for Gorton and Denton. That is Angeliki Stogia.”

He described her as driven by a sense of injustice.

“She’s angry about poverty. She’s angry about injustice. And she’s angry about Reform that wants to sow hatred and division in this community, and we will not let them.”

Miliband also pointed to a reduction in the energy price cap, saying it was evidence of Labour’s approach in government.

“Today is the right day to be talking about this, because we’re seeing the energy price cap fall by £117. It didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of the decisions of a Labour Budget and a Labour Chancellor - raising taxes on the wealthiest in our society so we could tackle the cost of living crisis for millions of people.”

He highlighted Labour’s plans and record on workers’ rights, the minimum wage and support for families, framing the by-election as a choice about the country’s direction.

“The last thing that we’re fighting for, and this is so important, is we are fighting against the hatred and division of Reform,” he said. “As Lucy said so well, we are the only people who can beat them.”

In her speech, Stogia reflected on comments she made earlier in the campaign.

“Yes, I did say a few weeks ago, ‘I am Angeliki and I’m very, very angry,’” she said. “Because Reform wants to divide our community.”

But she struck a more optimistic tone as the rally closed.

“Today, I am Angeliki and I am very, very happy, because we’ve got all of the Labour movement behind us in this by-election.”

She described the contest as significant not only for the constituency but for Manchester and the wider country.

“It is about the people’s stories. It is the people that we serve, and united, we serve together. Less than 24 hours, so let’s go out and spread the message of hope, and let’s make sure that hope conquers hate, and that we keep this city united.”

Polling stations across Gorton and Denton open tomorrow morning, 26 February, at 7am and close at 10pm.