Polling stations across Gorton & Denton are now open after a month of fierce campaigning in the North West.The vote was triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, who was sitting as an independent following his suspension from Labour last February.Mr Gwynne won the seat in 2024 with more than half the vote – but had the whip removed after his offensive messages on WhatsApp came to light.Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had been widely tipped to step up and stand for Labour – but the Prime Minister’s allies blocked him from having a go.Today will only be the second parliamentary by-election during Sir Keir Starmer’s time in No10 after Runcorn & Helsby on May 1 last year.A total of 11 candidates are standing on February 26.Polling stations opened at 7am, and will close at 10pm.The result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning – and GB News will bring you the very latest coverage into the night.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…Rachel Reeves now demands Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor repay taxpayer cash he ‘misused to spend on massages’Rachel Reeves has urged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to repay taxpayer cash he may have misused while serving as Britain’s trade envoy.The ex-prince has faced allegations of misusing taxpayer money in a number of ways in his role between 2001 and 2011, including on massages, “unreasonable” numbers of hotels, and taxpayer-funded aircraft on RAF bases.Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was released without charge.Our reporter Peter Stevens has the story here.Your Party to announce leadership later todayJeremy Corbyn’s Your Party will announce its first leaders on Thursday following a foundation process fraught with infighting.The announcement at 11am will see a 24-strong central executive committee (CEC) elected to lead the party in place of the single leader favoured by other parties.The CEC includes 20 seats for ordinary party members elected on a regional basis, plus another four elected from among Your Party’s “public office holders” such as MPs and councillors.While most of those elected will be ordinary members, the contest has been seen as a battle between Mr Corbyn and former Labour MP Zarah Sultana for control of the party.RECAP: How was Andy Burnham blocked from standing?A month ago, Sir Keir Starmer’s allies blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton & Denton.Eight of the Labour National Executive Committee’s (NEC’s) 10 members — including the Prime Minister himself — voted against Mr Burnham standing in the seat, vacated by outgoing MP Andrew Gwynne.Just one committee member was in favour, the party’s deputy leader Lucy Powell – while the NEC chairman, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, abstained.In a statement, Labour said: “The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester Mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.”Although the Party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk.”Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary Mayoral election which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.”READ THE FULL STORY ON ANDY BURNHAM’S BLOCK HEREREMINDER: Who is standing in today’s Gorton & Denton by-election?Standing to replace Andrew Gwynne in the Commons for Gorton & Denton are the following candidates:Sir Oink A-Lot – The Official Monster Raving Loony PartyNick Buckley – Advance UKCharlotte Cadden – Conservative PartyDan Clarke – Libertarian PartyMatt Goodwin – Reform UKSebastian Moore – Social Democratic PartyJoseph O’Meachair – Rejoin EUJackie Pearcey – Liberal DemocratsHannah Spencer – Green PartyAngeliki Stogia – Labour PartyHugo Wils – Communist League Election Campaign
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