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Usdaw urges Labour to reflect on the verdict of the voters and deliver the change they promised

Retail trade union leader Joanne Thomas has called on Labour to reflect on the verdict of the voters in the Gorton and Denton by-election and pick up the pace of change by delivering on key issues of the cost of living and making work pay.

27 February 2026

0 min read

Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “The people of Gorton and Denton have delivered a clear message. A majority of voters there do not feel that the Labour Government is providing the change they need, or the change the Labour Party committed to at the General Election. That message must be heard, and I hope the Government reflects seriously on how it can regain that trust. 
 
“There are major challenges facing this country after fourteen years of Conservative austerity and mismanagement. These challenges will not be solved by protest parties like the Greens or Reform. Labour is a party of government and with that comes responsibility. It must move quickly and decisively to deliver its manifesto commitments and address the cost of living pressures by ensuring work pays and jobs are more secure.” 

Notes for editors: 

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk 

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion

Summary

Retail trade union leader Joanne Thomas has called on Labour to reflect on the verdict of the voters in the Gorton and Denton by-election and pick up the pace of change by delivering on key issues of the cost of living and making work pay.