British politics isn’t generally keen on people who’ve been doing practical, messy work. For example, the average politician ascends to Parliament after receiving a degree from Oxford, spending some time as a researcher and dressing up their closet with perfectly tailored navy suits. But on 26 February this year the people of Gorton and Denton broke with routine. They opted for 35-year-old skilled tradeswoman Hannah Spencer, who likely spent her morning before the count fretting about gas safety certificates rather than a seat in the House of Commons.
This wasn’t a little surprise in the area; it was massive. Hannah Spencer received 14,980 votes (40.7%) when all the votes were counted, and this is the first time the Green Party has ever won a Westminister by-election. Considering Andrew Gwynne had strongly held this seat for Labour, the change in votes is unbelievable.
What happened wasn’t just about getting a fifth Green MP into the House of Commons; it’s a really worrying sign for the main parties that the “Red Wall” has a massive hole in it.
From Bolton College to the Backbenches
Born on 19 April 1991 in Bolton, Hannah Spencer didn’t grow up in the corridors of power. She started her apprenticeship at 16, learning the grit of the plumbing trade at Bolton College. For nearly twenty years, her world was defined by U-bends, gas safety checks, and the physical toll of manual labour. It’s this background that she carries into Parliament like a badge of honour.
She joined the Green Party movement in 2022, driven by a simmering anger over the “wealth gap.” Seeing families struggle to pay for the very boilers she was repairing while energy firms reported record profits changed her perspective. She didn’t want to just fix the pipes anymore; she wanted to fix the system. Her rise was rapid: from a Trafford councillor in 2023 to the Green Party group leader, and finally, to this historic victory where she pushed Labour into a humiliating third place.
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“Smelling the Alcohol”: The Westminster Culture Shock
Since arriving in London, Spencer hasn’t exactly tried to blend in. In fact, she’s spent much of April 2026 pointing out how bizarre the Westminster bubble actually is.
Just this week, she sparked a “social media storm in a pint glass” during an interview with the Politics JOE website. She didn’t hold back, telling the reporter that during evening votes, you can literally “smell the alcohol” on some MPs as they walk through the division lobbies.
Nigel Farage was quick to jump in, mocking her comments, but Spencer’s retort on X (formerly Twitter) went viral: “I’d have been sacked at work if I showed up smelling of booze, and so would most of my constituents. Why is Parliament any different?” She’s calling out the culture at bars like Strangers and The Woolsack, arguing that if the country is in a cost-of-living crisis, the people in charge shouldn’t be subsidising their pints while making life-altering decisions.
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Police Escorts and Piccadilly Gardens
It hasn’t all been maiden speeches and interviews. A high-profile, working-class woman in politics in 2026 has a mark on her back. While at an anti-far-right rally in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, on 8 March 2026, the police had to provide Hannah Spencer from the Green Party with an escort.
At the time, she was making a speech on inclusivity when being confronted by an aggressive YouTuber dressed in a “Trans women are men” sandwich board. Further away, it grew ugly; nearby, scuffles erupted and officers had to rush her into a waiting police car. It was a stark reminder that the “straight-talking plumber” persona, while popular with voters, riles up the extremes of the political spectrum.
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Animal Welfare and the Elsie Plant Connection
Beyond economics, Spencer is a fierce advocate for animal rights. She lives with four rescued greyhounds—one of whom she famously named after the Manchester suffragette Elsie Plant. In her first few months in office, she has called for a complete ban on greyhound racing — an industry she described as “a relic of the past.”
This stance is deeply personal. To humanise her political ambitions, she uses the platform to share updates about her dogs with 366,000 followers on Instagram. Not only a politician, she also happens to be “a housemate to four rescued greyhounds” and also has a vote on the national budget.
FAQ
Who is Hannah Spencer?
She is the Green MP for Gorton and Denton, elected in February 2026. She is a former plumber and gas engineer who defeated both Labour and Reform UK in a historic by-election.
What was her majority in the by-election?
She won with a majority of 4,402 votes, securing 40.7% of the total vote share.
Is she still a plumber?
While she’s a full-time MP now, she still holds all her trade qualifications. She famously said in her maiden speech that she’s the only person in the Commons who knows how to fix the heating if it packs up.
What is the controversy about drinking in Parliament?
In April 2026, she told PoliticsJOE that the drinking culture in Westminster was “uneasy” and that MPs often smell of alcohol when voting on legislation.
What happened in Piccadilly Gardens?
She required a police escort in March 2026 after being harassed by anti-trans activists during a speech at an anti-racism demo.
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A New Kind of Representative
What makes Hannah Spencer different isn’t just her job history. It’s the way she communicates. Her maiden speech on 12 March 2026 was devoid of the usual flowery metaphors. She didn’t talk about “global shifts”; she talked about the price of a pint of milk in Denton and the lack of NHS dentists in Gorton.
She represents a shift toward a “Northern Green” identity—one that cares about the planet but cares just as much about the “wealth gap” and the fact that most people in Westminster have never had to graft for a living. Anyway, whether she can actually change the “posh boy” culture remains to be seen. But for now, the plumber from Bolton is the most interesting person in the House of Commons.
And honestly? It’s about time someone brought a spanner to the works.
Sources and References
- UK Parliament Official. New Member of Parliament for Gorton and Denton – Hannah Spencer elected (27 February 2026).
- BBC News. Hannah Spencer wins Gorton and Denton by-election for the Green Party (26 February 2026).
- The Guardian. Hannah Spencer’s victory speech after the Gorton and Denton by-election (27 February 2026).
- PoliticsJOE. Hannah Spencer comments on drinking culture in Westminster (April 2026).
- Manchester Evening News. Hannah Spencer MP given police escort after clashes at Piccadilly Gardens (9 March 2026).
- BBC News. Hannah Spencer was given a police escort after an anti-hate demonstration turned violent (9 March 2026).
- Green Party Official. Hannah Spencer delivers a speech after a historic by-election win (27 February 2026).
- Instagram – Hannah Spencer MP. Official account with over 366,000 followers (regular updates on her work and rescued greyhounds, 2026).
