THERE’S no spinning or sugar-coating the election result in Gorton and Denton.

The Green Party had a stunning result. Labour were squeezed into third spot by an odious Reform candidate.

Despite the fact that mid-term government parties tend not to fare well in by-elections, the Labour Party will be devastated – not least because the result has the hands of Number 10 all over it.

If Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s former chief of staff, had not already resigned over his calamitous reign, he would almost certainly be packing his bags this morning.

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If you are living in the north, unionist or nationalist, and taking comfort in Keir Starmer getting a very bloody nose, reflect for a moment what the alternative political world in the UK might look like in the future. It won’t be pretty.

Some unionists seem to think a Reform-led government would strengthen the union.

It won’t, because Nigel Farage and his barrow boys do not give a fig about Northern Ireland.

Reform would look at the subvention figures and buy support with the dosh.

Any assets the north has in its threadbare cupboard would be raided, privatised, and sold off.

Some nationalists glow at the prospect of links with Westminster falling off a cliff. They believe it will hasten Irish unity.

They could be........

© The Irish News