Who Is Hannah Spencer?
Hannah Spencer is a plumber who became a politician. She made news when she won the Gorton and Denton by-election for the Green Party. Before she went to Westminster Hannah Spencer spent years fixing boilers and pipes in Greater Manchester. People in the area called her “Hannah the Plumber” because they knew her from her work before she became a politician. What is interesting about Hannah Spencer is that she did not take the path to becoming a politician. She did not study law or work in policy. Instead Hannah Spencer worked with her hands as a plumber for years. This background made her campaign stand out to people who were tired of politicians who seemed out of touch with problems.
Early Life and Background
Growing Up in Bolton, Greater Manchester
Hannah Spencer was born in Bolton in 1991. This is a town near the area she would later represent as a politician. She grew up in a working-class family. Her mother was a nurse. Nothing about her childhood suggested she would one day be in Parliament. Growing up in Bolton taught Hannah Spencer to be practical and straightforward. It also showed her the struggles that many people face which would later be a big part of her message as a politician.
Leaving School at 16 and Early Struggles
Hannah Spencer left school when she was sixteen. She tried to continue her studies. She decided it was not for her. Instead of going to college Hannah Spencer chose to learn a trade. At the time this might have seemed like a choice. Looking back it was a good decision. It gave Hannah Spencer a view of life that people could relate to. This helped her connect with voters who were facing choices.
From Trainee to Tradesperson
Earning Her NVQ in Plumbing
Around 2008 she started learning to be a plumber. She finished her National Vocational Qualification at Bolton College. Plumbing was not a job to get into especially for a young woman in a trade mostly done by men but she kept at it. The practical training taught her more than fixing pipes; it taught her to be patient solve problems and talk to people from all walks of life. Those skills turned out to be really useful when she was campaigning.
Becoming “Hannah the Plumber”
After she finished her apprenticeship she started her business called Hannah’s Household Plumbing. This was after she took part in the Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme. She became well-known locally. People started calling her “Hannah the Plumber.” This nickname followed her all the way into politics. Running her small business also gave her a real understanding of the pressures faced by people who work for themselves which she often talked about when discussing the cost of living.
Training as a Gas Engineer and Plasterer
She didn’t stop at plumbing. She went on to qualify as a gas engineer and then trained as a plasterer. She was reportedly the only woman in her plastering class. Having a background like this with practical skills isn’t common. It added to her image as someone who really understood physical work. It also became something she talked about during her campaign making it clear she wasn’t another politician.
Entry Into Politics
Joining the Green Party
She became a member of the Green Party of England and Wales in 2022. The Green Party is where she felt she could make a difference. She was tired of seeing the difference between the rich and the poor get bigger. The Green Party felt right to her because they make decisions as a team. This is something she was used to from her job.
Campaigning Against Greyhound Racing
The thing that got her into politics was not a national problem. It was something that was happening near her home. She did not like the idea of greyhound racing near Belle Vue Stadium. So she started a campaign to stop it. This was her first time doing something like this. She had to talk to people and get them to join her cause. It was a way for her to learn how to be a leader.
Serving on Trafford Council
In 2023 she was voted in as a councillor for the Hale ward on Trafford Council. Later she became the leader of the Green Party group on the council. This job taught her how the decisions they make affect the people in her community. It was also a chance for her to practice being a leader. The Green Party and she were a team. The Green Party is where she started to make a name for herself in politics. She was happy to be a part of the Green Party and to serve on Trafford Council.
The 2024 Mayoral Bid
Before she won the by-election she had run as the Green Party’s candidate in the 2024 Greater Manchester election. She finished in third place with almost 46,000 votes. Although she did not win the campaign helped raise her profile across the region. It also gave her experience running a bigger campaign which was useful two years later.
The Gorton and Denton By-Election Win
Key Campaign Promises
Her by-election campaign focused on issues that mattered to working families. These included a £15 minimum wage controls on rent and lower energy bills through better home insulation. She also wanted free prescriptions, dentistry and eye care. She positioned herself as a candidate who cared about the cost of living. These were not just policy ideas; they were issues she had faced herself as a self-employed tradesperson.
Stance on Gaza and Public Services
She also spoke out about Labour’s handling of the Gaza war. She said the Green Party had always stood with Palestinians. She called for water supplies to be nationalised linking these concerns to her message about fairness and public accountability. This mix of economic focus and international stance helped her appeal to different voter groups.
Breaking Barriers in Northern England
Hannah Spencer made history when she won. She was the Green Party candidate to win a seat in Parliament through a special election. This was also the first time the Green Party had a member of Parliament from the north of England. This was a big deal for the party because they usually do not do well outside of their strong areas. Hannah Spencer’s win showed that people in areas that usually vote for the Labour Party were willing to try something new when they were not happy.
Facing Public Scrutiny
Hannah Spencer was suddenly in the public eye after she won. She had to deal with rumours and false information right away. Some people said she was married to a man who worked for a pharmaceutical company. She said this was not true. She said she was not married. Some people also said she was not really a plumber. She had been working as a plumber for years. She handled these rumours with humour and by being direct. This actually made people like her more.
Her Vision for Parliament
Since Hannah Spencer became a member of Parliament she has kept saying that regular people need to have a voice in politics. Because she used to work with her hands she has a perspective on things like housing and energy and workers’ rights. She believes that if you work hard you should be able to have a life. This message really resonated with people when she was running for office. It is still what guides her work in Parliament. Hannah Spencer is about making sure that people, like her who work hard every day are represented in Parliament.
Public and Political Reactions
People had a lot of things to say about Hannah Spencer’s win. Some people who supported her thought it was great that someone from outside of politics could do well. Other people who did not support her were not sure if she was right for the job because of her background. Some people said she did not have experience. The people who supported her said that it is just as important to have experience in the real world as it is to have experience in politics. Either way Hannah Spencer’s election made people talk about who should be representing people in Parliament.
Conclusion
Hannah Spencer’s story is really interesting. She used to be a plumbing apprentice in Bolton. Now she is a Member of Parliament. This is not the way that people get into politics. That is why a lot of voters liked her. Because she used to work in a trade she knows a lot about money issues that a lot of politicians do not understand. We do not know if Hannah Spencer’s time in Parliament will change politics for a long time. We do know that she has already shown that people can get into politics in non-traditional ways and be successful. For now people are watching to see how Hannah Spencer balances her roots in a working-class community with the demands of being a politician. Hannah Spencer has to figure out how to do this. People are paying attention to see what she will do.
FAQs
Who is Hannah Spencer?
British Green Party politician Hannah Spencer, who has serves as an MP for Gorton and Denton since winning a by-election in February 2026.
Is Hannah Spencer a real qualified plumber?
Yes, she has a background as an accredited and qualified plumber, gas engineer and plasterer and prior to becoming involved in politics she worked as a tradesperson.
Which seat does she represent?
She is an MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester following victory in a by-election contest.
Is Hannah Spencer married?
Online speculation notwithstanding, Hannah Spencer has said that she is not married.
What is her political focus?
Spencer’s political focus is to raise the minimum wage, bring in rent controls, reduce household energy bills, increase free healthcare at the point of delivery (for things like dentistry or prescribed drugs).
