Nigel Farage Accuses Foreign-Born Voters of Costing Reform UK Manchester By-Election Victory
Nigel Farage has made sensational claims that Reform UK was deprived of victory in last week's Manchester by-election due to the influence of foreign-born voters. In a fiery article for the Mail on Sunday, Farage asserts that his party actually won among British-born voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency, but the outcome was swayed by alleged voter fraud and sectarian tactics.
Allegations of Voter Fraud and Sectarian Campaigning
The Green Party's shock victory has been clouded by mounting allegations of electoral malpractice. Independent observers reported unprecedented levels of "family voting," an illegal practice where one person accompanies another into the polling booth to influence their vote. Estimates suggest this may have affected up to one in eight ballots cast.
Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured her win with a campaign that specifically targeted Muslim voters in Gorton and Denton. The Greens focused heavily on the Gaza conflict, accusing Israel of genocide, and distributed campaign materials in Urdu. Critics have accused the party of "whipping up hatred" and exploiting sectarian divisions to secure victory.
Foreign Voting Rules Under Scrutiny
Farage has vowed that if he becomes Prime Minister, he will overhaul the rules allowing non-British citizens to vote in UK elections. Under current regulations, citizens of Commonwealth nations like Pakistan can participate in British elections provided they are legally resident in a UK constituency and registered to vote.
"This is the most glaring example yet of what happens if we're not careful about the impacts of mass immigration and about the legitimacy of those who can vote in our elections," Farage declared in his article. He revealed that Reform UK's analysis showed 10% of the constituency's electorate were born in Pakistan, with some wards having over 20% foreign-born voters, and one ward reaching 48%.
Academic and Political Reactions
Oxford-based academic Dr. Patrick Nash suggested that the practice of cousin marriages contributed significantly to the "family voting" phenomenon observed during the by-election. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski faced scrutiny for hiring spin doctor Abi Wilkinson, who has made controversial statements about the October 7 Hamas attacks and repeatedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany.
Tory peer Lord Hayward, who introduced legislation in 2023 specifically targeting "family voting," expressed disappointment that his law appeared to have been flouted. "The system has clearly gone wrong in a substantial way in Gorton and Denton," he stated.
Broader Political Fallout
The by-election result has triggered significant political repercussions. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faced fresh calls to resign after his party finished third in the contest. Supporters of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham predicted he would forge an alliance with the Greens and advocate for electoral reform if he succeeds Starmer as Prime Minister.
Exclusive polling published in the Mail on Sunday revealed that 44% of voters believe the Prime Minister should resign following the by-election loss, with only 34% supporting his continuation in office. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a government fightback with announcements focusing on cost-of-living measures and economic "green shoots."
Police Investigation and Party Responses
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed receiving a report about the allegations and is reviewing the matter. A police spokesperson stated: "We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course."
The Green Party has dismissed claims of cheating as "an attempt to undermine the democratic result." Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of having "created the monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes" at previous elections, warning that sectarian politics threatens to "unravel the culture of tolerance that makes Britain great."
