In Gorton and Denton, I found a long-festering sense of fury that Labour has no idea how to tackle | John Harris

"The route of the No 201 bus begins in the regenerated wonderland of central Manchester, and follows a straight line through the neighbourhoods to its east. The city's box-fresh skyscrapers and gleaming new hotels quickly recede and within 10 minutes you arrive in Gorton, at the outer edge of the constituency that, in not much more than three weeks' time, will see the byelection that could have profound consequences for the future of both the Labour party and British politics."

"Gorton is hardly a social desert. Millions of pounds are being spent on a regeneration scheme that among its other benefits will bring the area new housing and a revitalised high street. But in the covered market that is about to be upgraded to a food and drink cluster, when I ask people questions about the looming vote, I mostly hear expressions of fierce resentment."

"My mum's got stage four terminal cancer and she can't afford to put her heating on, one woman tells me, with a bracing anger. And every 10 minutes, I hear some or other version of that dependable modern mantra: I really don't like Keir Starmer. Beyond one man's claim that he hasn't done what he said he'd do, no one can specify exactly why, but that seems to fire people's loathing all the more:"

The No 201 bus runs from regenerated central Manchester eastward through neighbourhoods to Gorton and Denton. Gorton is receiving millions for regeneration that will deliver new housing and a revitalised high street, yet local voices express fierce resentment. Residents cite grooming gangs, small boats, soaring private rents and an unbearable cost of living as core concerns. A woman reports her mother cannot afford heating while terminally ill. WhatsApp messages harmed the former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne. Many locals express a persistent dislike of Keir Starmer without specifying reasons, reflecting a wider sense of disconnection and perceived government powerlessness ahead of a consequential by-election.

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