Hannah Spencer, the Green party candidate in this week's Gorton and Denton byelection, has described the contest as a 'straight fight' between the Greens and Reform UK. Speaking ahead of Thursday's vote, Spencer, a plumber from Manchester, said Labour had failed and Reform was 'poisonous'. She called for a 'fresh start' for the constituency.
Spencer, who left school at 16 and recently qualified as a plasterer, said she was standing after 'years of watching things fall apart'. She argued that Gorton and Denton deserved an MP 'rooted in this community'. The byelection follows the resignation of former Labour MP Afzal Khan.
Spencer confirmed she had debated Reform candidate Matthew Goodwin three times and declined a fourth head-to-head, preferring to speak to voters. She said she invited Goodwin to join her for 'a proper day's work' getting under floorboards, adding that it might be 'useful experience' for someone who spends time in TV studios.
The Green candidate focused on local issues including fuel poverty, with one in three households in the constituency affected. She argued that insulating homes would keep people warm, cool and slash bills, but criticised political parties for taking money from fossil fuel interests. Spencer also claimed that fossil fuel proponents and climate sceptics had helped bankroll Reform.
On immigration, Spencer acknowledged public frustration but said Reform was 'whipping up division'. She highlighted that the three biggest asylum housing contractors were set for record profits, and criticised Reform for 'pointing the finger at vulnerable people'. Spencer said the constituency was not 'an island of strangers' and that Manchester had a proud history of welcoming people.
If elected, Spencer said it would 'send shockwaves'. She concluded that politics 'shouldn't be something done to people' and that those who keep the country going deserved a real say.
