Green MP Hannah Spencer Reflects on Historic Byelection Victory and Political Challenges
Hannah Spencer, the Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, has made headlines with a remarkable byelection win last month. At 34 years old, Spencer, a plumber by trade, secured the Green party its first byelection victory, achieving a 26% swing from Labour and boosting the party's vote share by 28 percentage points compared to the 2024 general election. This result shocked the political establishment, with Labour pushed to third place and Reform finishing a distant second.
A Campaign Marked by Anger and Misinformation
Spencer notes that the campaign revealed deep-seated frustration among voters. "Wow, people were so angry at Labour," she says, emphasizing how the groundswell of discontent became apparent during door-to-door efforts. The local Green party members selected her as their candidate after incumbent MP Andrew Gwynne resigned for health reasons, with speculation that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham might stand being quashed by Labour's leadership.
The campaign turned ugly, with a van displaying false claims about Spencer and Green party leader Zack Polanski promoting drug use and legal prostitution circulating the constituency the day before the election. Despite this, Spencer's victory brought the Green party's total MPs to five, a record high.
Confronting Smears and Defending Her Credibility
Known as a plumber and greyhound lover, Spencer has faced persistent smears questioning her profession. Social media bots and local misinformation campaigns have spread falsehoods, leading to confrontations where voters screamed, "You're not a plumber!" in her face. She responds by displaying her qualifications in her constituency office and highlighting the importance of countering misinformation in democracy.
"These people have been fed misinformation constantly and now they really believe it," Spencer explains, noting how false claims filter into community Facebook groups. She also recounts a violent rally incident under police investigation, where she believes protesters shared common ground with her but were influenced by wealthy interests.
From Plumbing to Politics: A Journey of Grit and Principle
Spencer's path into politics began with activism against greyhound racing, sparked by her love for dogs. She leafleted outside the Belle Vue dog track, contributing to its closure in 2020, and expanded her focus to gambling addiction and corporate lobbying. The COVID-19 pandemic further galvanized her, as she witnessed politicians breaking rules while ordinary people sacrificed.
Her plumbing career, which includes self-taught plastering, has been a point of contention. She faced sexism early on, with apprenticeship interviewers commenting on her skirt length, and later, contempt from political opponents who dismissed manual work. Spencer invited Reform candidate Matt Goodwin to work a day with her, but he declined, underscoring what she sees as a disconnect between career politicians and everyday realities.
Advocating for Systemic Change and Community Focus
Spencer criticizes career politicians who follow a traditional path from university to MP roles, arguing that too many lose touch. Her politics center on ensuring people don't have to leave their hometowns for a good life, addressing issues like student debt, the housing market, and the climate crisis. She stresses that clean air and longer life expectancies shouldn't be privileges of the wealthy.
"This is fixable. We just haven't got people who care enough about other people to make the changes," she asserts, calling for more diverse voices in politics to tackle systemic inequalities and misinformation.
