Green MP's Victory Speech Marred by Hypocrisy Allegations
In her emotional victory speech following the Gorton and Denton by-election, newly elected Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old former plumber, offered a humorous apology to her customers. 'Now to my customers, I'm sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament,' she joked, addressing her core inner-city supporters.
Pitching her message to an area containing some of Manchester's most deprived neighbourhoods, where incomes are 25 percent below the national average, Spencer declared that people are being 'bled dry' and are 'sick of our hard work making other people rich.' However, this rhetoric has been sharply contrasted with revelations about her personal finances and lifestyle, leading to accusations of hypocrisy from critics and constituents alike.
Property Portfolio Contradicts Green Party Stance
Land Registry documents reveal that Spencer co-owns two houses in Manchester's most affluent postcodes with her former partner, Dr Stephen Holman, a biochemist. The properties are valued at over £1 million collectively. The couple previously lived in a £280,000 terraced home in Sale and, eighteen months ago, splurged £750,000 on another property in Altrincham, which remains a building site.
This property ownership stands in stark contrast to Green Party policies, which include abolishing private landlords, taxing the rich, and implementing rent controls. Party leader Zack Polanski has been vocal about these aims, yet Spencer's personal investments appear to conflict with this agenda.
Social Media Reveals Extensive Travel and Contradictions
Further scrutiny of Spencer's social media accounts has uncovered a history of foreign travel that seems at odds with her party's environmental criticisms of flying. Documented trips include:
- Amsterdam in 2018
- Valencia and Barcelona in 2016
- A trans-Atlantic journey to New York and San Francisco in 2014
- Hungary in the same year
Additionally, her Instagram featured a photo of her posing next to what appeared to be a petrol car adorned with campaign slogans, and another post mocked Brexit, adding to the perception of inconsistency.
Property Advice and Investment Strategies Exposed
On Mumsnet, Spencer offered tips on maximising profits from property transactions, advice that has raised eyebrows given her political platform. After her mother assisted her in purchasing her first home at age 24, she has owned several properties, including a £736,000 second home reportedly bought in August 2024.
In her posts, Spencer advised others on how to extract more money from buyers. In one instance, she threatened to sell to another buyer unless the original purchasers 'found' the additional funds, even though they knew they were overpaying. She described those who increase offers in small increments as 'stingy and more likely to haggle.'
Spencer also admitted to discriminating against buyers who needed to borrow more to meet her asking price, stating, 'The banks are getting warier by the day,' and adding she 'wouldn't accept an offer from anyone' requiring higher borrowing 'unless I absolutely had to.' She has endorsed second homes as investments, a position contrary to Green Party policy.
Constituent Outrage and Party Defence
Local residents have expressed anger over the revelations. Paul Hall, a 43-year-old airport worker, said, 'She came across as a down-to-earth plumber. But to find out she's got lots of money with two homes is outrageous. How can she stand as a Green candidate when she loves air travel and jetting off around the world? She's a hypocrite.'
Self-employed Mike Kerr, 49, added, 'She shouldn't stand as an MP if she doesn't do what she preaches.'
In response, a Green Party spokesperson defended Spencer, stating, 'Hannah Spencer is a real life, working class, human being. That is why she is proving so popular. The Green Party doesn't believe people should be deprived of transport or holidays.' The spokesperson clarified that Spencer has split from her partner but remains on the paperwork for the houses, and noted that her ex-partner worked hard to save for the deposit on an uninhabitable building undergoing renovation.
As Hannah Spencer, now the Green Party's fifth MP, transitions from plumbing to Parliament, her victory is overshadowed by these controversies, highlighting the challenges of aligning personal actions with political principles in the public eye.
