By bizn_fun 
PM: Upcoming by-election is a ‘fight between patriotic renewal and toxic politics of Reform’
In an interview earlier with our political editor Beth Rigby, Sir Keir Starmer said the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton will be a “fight between patriotic renewal and the toxic politics of Reform”.
The prime minister told Sky News Labour will have an “excellent candidate in the by-election” and insisted it will be a “straight fight between Labour and Reform”.
The election has been called following suspended Tory MP Andrew Gwynne agreeing a deal that will allow him to stand down from parliament.
The PM told Beth: “Reform have chosen their candidate and you can see from that candidate that what they will have as their campaign is a politics of division and toxic divide.
“Labour will fight that.
“It’s a fight between patriotic renewal and Labour, which is delivering across the country, including in the constituency with an excellent candidate or the toxic politics of Reform.
“And the last thing that the by-election needs is the toxic politics of Reform.”
Watch: Deputy political editor Sam Coates visits Gorton and Denton
But Beth challenged that some Labour colleagues believe Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is the only candidate who might be able to beat Reform.
Asked what he says to those people, Starmer responded: “Well, I would say to them that every minute we spend not talking about the cost of living is a wasted minute, because I’m deeply conscious that wherever I am in the world, whatever’s going on domestically, the thing that matters most up and down the country is the cost of living.
“We need to concentrate all of our time, all of our energy, all our focus on all the levers we can pull as we are to deal with the cost of living.”
Reform have announced their candidate will be Matt Goodwin, while the Liberal Democrats confirmed today that Jackie Pearcey will fight the election for them.
The Greens used an event this morning to announce that Hannah Spencer is their candidate.
Labour and the Conservatives are yet to announce who will run in the seat for them.
Nominations close at 1600 on Tuesday 3 February.
After the deadline, the list of candidates will be published on the Manchester City Council website here.
The by-election is on the 26 February.