Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has confirmed the party reported cases of 'family voting' in the Gorton and Denton by-election to the police and the Electoral Commission. The practice, where two voters share a polling booth and potentially influence each other's vote, is illegal. The move follows warnings from election observer group Democracy Volunteers, which said it witnessed 'concerningly high levels' of such activity.
Reform finished second in Thursday's by-election, behind the Green Party. Farage said: 'What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas.' Tory peer Lord Hayward, who authored the legislation outlawing family voting, said the issue was 'most striking' in areas with large Muslim populations.
The by-election was marred by allegations of dirty tricks, with parties repeatedly referring each other's candidates to police. The Greens accused Labour of distributing leaflets from a 'fictitious' tactical voting organisation, while Labour accused the Greens of 'whipping up hatred' over Gaza. Labour also released a campaign video in Urdu featuring an image of David Lammy shaking hands with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Labour suffered a humiliating third-place finish, behind the Greens and Reform. Sir Keir Starmer defended the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing as Labour's candidate. Greens leader Zack Polanski admitted he 'punched the air' when he learned Burnham would not be on the ballot. The Greens' Hannah Spencer won with 14,980 votes, more than 4,000 ahead of Reform's Matt Goodwin.
Labour MPs, unions and campaign groups have demanded a change of course from Sir Keir ahead of crucial May elections, with warnings his leadership could be at risk. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn congratulated Spencer and pledged to work with the Greens to push for a 'coordinated left-flank offensive' against Reform and Labour.
