UK special election gives Green Party a win and raises questions for Starmer

The Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election while Labour came third, and the result has intensified questions about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.

An emphatic Green Party victory in the Gorton and Denton special election in Greater Manchester has drawn attention to the state of Britain's governing Labour Party and its leader, Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The contest was for one House of Commons seat and the result came less than two years after Labour won power. Analysts and some Labour figures described the outcome as a setback for the government amid recent controversies and slow progress on domestic issues. Key facts: - The Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election; Labour finished third behind both the Greens and Reform U.K. - Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the disappointing result and said he would "keep on fighting," while some Labour lawmakers called for a change of direction. - Police are investigating emails connected to former Labour politician Peter Mandelson; Mandelson was arrested and later released on bail, and that episode contributed to a recent leadership crisis reported in the article. - The article notes upcoming May 7 local and regional elections and that, under British rules, the governing party can change prime minister without a general election. Summary: The Greens' victory signals growing challenges for Labour from both the left and the right and has intensified internal questions about Starmer's leadership. The immediate developments include a police investigation related to Peter Mandelson and the approaching May 7 local and regional elections, which the article identifies as the next notable events.