The Labour Party has said tonight’s by-election loss is “clearly disappointing”.

“By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different”, the party’s chair Anna Turley said in the wake of the crucial result.

She added: “We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform.

“We will continue to deliver a programme for government that tackles the cost of living crisis families are facing, creates opportunities for young people and invests in our public services.

“The politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform won’t deliver this.

“We will move forward with a relentless focus on delivering the renewal communities across Britain want to see.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered defeat in a vote in an area of Greater Manchester it had dominated for almost a century, a loss that underscores the breakdown of Britain’s decades-old two-party politics.

The left-leaning Green Party of England and Wales candidate Hannah Spencer won the contest for the vacant parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton with 14,980 votes — the first time the party has won a one-off parliamentary election.

The candidate for Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, came second with 10,587 votes, while the governing Labour Party finished third with 9,364 votes.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has arrived at the count along with candidate Hannah Spencer.

Mr Polanski’s Greens appeared increasingly confident in their chances as the night went on, with a source saying: “We are now very confident of a win.”

Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin has arrived, accompanied by members of the party’s press team.

But there is no sign of Nigel Farage, who would have only shown up if they thought they had a strong chance of winning.

With results expected imminently, it is becoming increasingly likely that the Greens have won in Gorton and Denton.

Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia has arrived at the count, escorted by Lucy Powell, the deputy leader of the party.

They stood, along with other glum-looking Labour activists, arms folded, in one corner of the room, expecting to be defeated.

Masses of press stood at the other end of the room awaiting the arrival of the Green Party candidate, Hannah Spencer, and Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin.

The result of the election is expected in the next 30 minutes.

Labour’s candidate Angeliki Stogia has arrived with the party’s deputy leader Lucy Powell ahead of the result being declared from 4am.

The pair walked in to the count venue in silence and were met by no applause or cheers, amid speculation that Labour may have come third in tonight’s by-election.

Media hacks are now waiting keenly for the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer and Reform’s Matt Goodwin to arrive.

The Labour Party appears to have conceded in the Gorton and Denton by-election, amid growing speculation that the Greens may have won.

In a damning admission at around 3am, the party’s deputy leader said the Greens “have managed to win that argument that they were best placed” to keep Reform UK out of Gorton and Denton.

It came after Zack Polanski’s party said “things are feeling positive” for the Greens in the Labour stronghold.

Speaking to Sky News, Lucy Powell said: “I wanted Angeliki Stogia to be my colleague in Parliament.“But I think what is really clear is that there is a big majority in this constituency that hasn’t voted for Reform. And on the day the Greens have managed to win that argument that they were best placed to do that.

“But I’m not sure whether that would totally translate in a general election.”

She added that “parties of government too often lose by-elections midterm like this” and that “at the next general election, the choice across the country, not just in one constituency, will be between a Reform government or a Labour government, and I think that will focus people’s minds in a different way.”

“We’ve got to, of course, take stock, as we always do, and show humility and that we are hearing what people are saying.”