Police have been urged to investigate alleged voter fraud following the Green Party's shock victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester. Plumber Hannah Spencer overturned a previously safe Labour seat, pushing Labour into third place and prompting renewed pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The result has sparked warnings that Britain is 'sleepwalking into sectarian politics'.

The win was quickly overshadowed by claims of widespread 'family voting', an illegal practice in which one family member influences or directs another's vote inside the polling booth. Democracy Volunteers reported record levels of the practice, estimating that as many as one in eight ballots may have been affected. Reform party leader Nigel Farage called the result a 'victory for sectarian voting and cheating' and urged Greater Manchester Police and the Electoral Commission to investigate.

Critics also accused the Greens of targeting the constituency's large Muslim population with campaign messages focused on the war in Gaza, fuelling claims of sectarian tactics. Green leaders denied the allegations and dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing as attempts to undermine the democratic outcome. The controversy has intensified political tensions, with senior figures across parties warning of deepening divisions ahead of future elections.