By bizn_fun 
Good morning and welcome to Politics Hub this Tuesday, 27 January.
Reform UK and the Green party are both bullish over the chances in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election after Labour blocked Andy Burnham from standing as their candidate.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said yesterday that had Burnham stood, Reform’s chances of winning the by-election would have been reduced. He said Reform was now the home of the “anti-Starmer vote”.
Meanwhile, the Greens said they were “throwing the kitchen sink at this, and believe we can win”.
Reform are announcing their candidate today, while the Greens will at the weekend.
Meanwhile Labour continues to row over the decision of Labour’s ruling body to Burnham from standing, with around 50 MPs signing a letter urging a U-turn.
The by-election is expected to be held on 26 February.
Starmer going to China
Also today, Sir Keir Starmer chairs cabinet before heading on the first trip to China by a UK prime minister since 2018.
He’ll be looking to improve trade links – as well as raising the case of British-Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai, who is in prison after being convicted under the island’s controversial national security law.
Coming up on Sky News Mornings:
- Housing Secretary Steve Reed
- Former Tory cabinet minister Sir Sajid Javid
- Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith
Stick with us for all the latest political news, here on Politics Hub.