Watch Hannah Spencer's by-election victory speech

Gorton and Denton's new MP Hannah Spencer has said "I don't think it's extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life" after winning the by-election for the Green Party.

She won the contest in Manchester with 14,980 votes, beating runner-up Reform UK and Labour - who previously held the seat – into third place.

A plumber by trade, she apologised to customers for having to cancel future jobs so she could take her seat at Westminster, saying: "I didn't grow up wanting to be a politician."

She added: "I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do."

She continued: "Except things have changed a lot over the last few decades, because working hard used to get you something.

"It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere.

"But now, working hard, what does that get you?

"Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you, the people work hard but can't put food on the table, can't get their kids school uniforms, can't put their heating on, can't live off the pension they worked hard to save for, can't even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever.

"Because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, we're working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry."

She said that residents in the constituency told her that "what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on".

"That we are sick of our hard work making other people rich."

Ms Spencer also took aim at her election rivals as she said: "I won't accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.

"My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me - human."

She said the election's result showed "we don't have to accept being turned against each other".

Having qualified as a plasterer during the election campaign, she said she would "make space for everyone doing jobs like mine".

"We will finally get a seat at the table. We can demand better without hating each other.

"We ran a hopeful campaign backed by thousands of volunteers and activists.

"We defeated the parties of billionaire donors. Because this is Manchester. We do things differently here," she added.

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