Newspaper Round Up: 28th of February 2026

Daily Star Front Page 28th of February 2026

Green candidate Hannah Spencer, a plasterer and plumber, captured Gorton in a by-election, defeating Labour despite campaigning by the PM. Labour conceded after a major swing, raising questions over its urban strongholds and boosting the Greens’ Westminster presence.

Read More »

Daily Mirror Front Page 28th of February 2026

Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election, overturning Labour’s 13,000 majority. Labour fell to third behind Reform. The PM called the result disappointing but vowed to keep fighting, while Angela Rayner labelled it a wake-up call and urged the party to be braver.

Read More »

Guardian Front Page 28th of February 2026

Greens won the Gorton and Denton by‑election, overturning a large Labour majority to secure a fifth MP. Reform UK placed second, with Labour third. The result jolted Starmer’s party, prompting backbench unrest and demands for a strategic reset to stem further losses.

Read More »

Daily Telegraph Front Page 28th of February 2026

Shabana Mahmood says planned migration curbs will proceed, resisting pressure to shift left after a Green by-election win aided by Muslim voters. She argues controlling legal arrivals and tightening routes is vital for credibility with working-class voters and public trust.

Read More »

Times Front Page 28th of February 2026

Labour suffered a major setback as the Greens won the Gorton & Denton by-election, with Labour falling to third. The result increases pressure on the PM, prompting calls to shift left and fuelling leadership speculation as the party seeks to reconnect with disaffected voters.

Read More »

Daily Mail Front Page 28th of February 2026

Calls mount for police to probe alleged ‘family voting’ in the Manchester by-election after poll monitors reported voters being directed inside booths. Senior politicians demand swift action to safeguard ballot integrity and determine whether electoral rules were breached.

Read More »

Financial Times Front Page 28th of February 2026

Greens captured Gorton in a by‑election, taking the seat from Labour and denting Starmer’s authority. Some Labour MPs urged a shift left, but the leadership signalled no change. The PM vowed to counter “extremes” as parties assess the result’s implications for strategy.

Read More »

i Front Page 28th of February 2026

After a heavy by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton, where Green candidate Hannah Spencer won with 41% and Reform UK came second while the Tories lost their deposit, Labour fell to third. Angela Rayner is urging the PM to shift left, intensifying leadership pressure amid MPs’ warnings of serious jeopardy.

Read More »

Independent Front Page 28th of February 2026

Greens seized Labour’s once-safe Gorton and Denton in a by-election, electing a local plumber as MP. The result pushed Labour into third behind Reform, triggering calls for the PM to quit. Angela Rayner urged a wake-up call; Starmer vowed to continue and reject what he called divisive Green policies.

Read More »