Green Party's Hannah Spencer Campaigns for Trust in Gorton and Denton Byelection
In the lead-up to Thursday's critical byelection in Gorton and Denton, Green party candidate Hannah Spencer is making a passionate appeal for trust, positioning the contest as a direct battle against fear and a straight fight between the Greens and Reform UK. Spencer, a tradesperson from Manchester who left school at 16 and has worked as a plumber and recently qualified as a plasterer, argues that after years of watching communities deteriorate, it's time to fix broken politics from the ground up.
A Community-Focused Candidate
Spencer emphasizes her deep roots in the community, stating that Gorton and Denton deserves an MP who genuinely understands and cares for the area. Through thousands of doorstep conversations, she has observed widespread disillusionment with Labour, transforming this byelection into a head-to-head contest with Reform UK. She has debated Reform candidate Matthew Goodwin three times but declined further debates to prioritize direct engagement with residents.
Her campaign focuses on practical issues: lowering bills, addressing austerity scars, and halting NHS privatisation. Spencer shares many of the pressures faced by her neighbours, fueling her determination to amplify their voices in parliament. She even invited Goodwin to join her for a day of hands-on work, such as fitting central heating, suggesting it might offer valuable perspective for someone often in TV studios.
Tackling Climate and Fuel Poverty
Spencer highlights the urgency of net zero policies, countering Reform's dismissive stance as "stupid." With one in three households in Gorton and Denton living in fuel poverty, she advocates for insulating homes to improve comfort and reduce energy bills. She points out that many homes in the area are among the leakiest in Europe, a fact she knows firsthand from her trade work.
She questions why such fixes aren't prioritized, suggesting political parties may be influenced by fossil fuel donors who benefit from high energy use. Spencer notes that Reform has received backing from fossil fuel proponents and wealthy climate sceptics, undermining efforts toward sustainability.
Immigration and Division
The byelection has also become a battleground over immigration, with Reform UK accused of whipping up division. Spencer expresses frustration with the current asylum system, particularly the £6 million daily cost of housing people in hotels, which she sees as unfair amid housing affordability crises. However, she criticizes Reform for not challenging the record profits of asylum housing contractors like Clearsprings, Serco, and Mears, funded by taxpayers.
As a local councillor, Spencer has witnessed asylum seekers eager to work and contribute, such as planting bulbs in parks, but trapped by restrictive policies and divisive rhetoric. She asserts that Manchester's history of welcoming immigrants strengthens the community, rejecting fear-based narratives.
Rebuilding Trust and Political Change
With support from Green members and activists, including nearly 20,000 doorstep conversations, Spencer reports a strong desire among voters to trust politics again. She aims to rebuild that trust by involving people in decision-making, arguing that politics should be done with, not to, the public.
If elected, Spencer believes her victory would send shockwaves through the political establishment, signaling an end to old ways and opening doors for others to follow. She concludes that the establishment's days are numbered, emphasizing her commitment to genuine, community-driven representation.
