Voters hit out as Nigel Farage parades divisive candidate whereas Burnham row deepens

The Mirror spoke to voters in Gorton and Denton, where Labour face a battle with Reform and the Green Party on February 26 after Andy Burnham’s candidacy was blocked

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Voters said they do not want Nigel Farage’s divisive candidate in a hotly-contested by-election.

Locals voiced their opposition as the Reform leader visited Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester with controversial wannabe MP Matthew Goodwin. Mr Goodwin sparked a racism row last year by claiming people born in the UK are not necessarily British, and declined to disown the comments this week.

But Labour was warned it had “shot themselves in the foot” by blocking Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – increasing the possibility Reform could win.

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The crunch by-election will be held on February 26 after suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne announced he was stepping down. Mum-of-three Juliana Awoyemi, 57, said: “I’m horrified Farage and his candidate are here.

“What Goodwin said was disgusting. We need nice people in government, not people like Farage.”

She added: “I’m from Nigeria originally so I don’t think Reform would like me. I really hope Labour will win as they are the best party and we want the best in the area.”

Pushing her baby in a pram by Gorton’s large Tesco supermarket, Jane Harris, 27, said: “I’m disgusted by Farage and his candidate. It’s outrageous that he’s here. We are a very mixed area and we don’t want anyone stirring up racial tension.”

Retired hospital porter Edward Hughes, 72, said: “I want Labour to win to keep out Reform. I’d have preferred Andy Burnham to have stood but still think Labour are the best bet.

“We don’t want Farage and his right-wing mob here. I’m glad I didn’t see him when he came here.” Keir Starmer insisted the contest will be a two way fight between Labour and Reform, despite the Greens claiming to be best placed to defeat Mr Farage’s party.

On Saturday Labour will unveil its candidate as the row over Mr Burnham rumbles on. Bury Council leader Eamonn O’Brien and Whalley Range councillor Angeliki Stogia are the final two contenders.

Challenged on whether a confident leader would have allowed Mr Burnham to run, Mr Starmer said yesterday(FRI): “We’ll have an excellent candidate in the by-election, and it’s already clear that it’s going to be a straight fight between Labour and Reform.

“And Reform have chosen their candidate and you can see from that candidate that what they will have as their campaign is a politics of division and toxic divide. Labour will fight that.”

Mr Goodwin has been backed by far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, who posted on X: “Vote for Matt.” Meanwhile Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, was confirmed as the Green candidate.

She said: “This is a crucial by-election. The choice is clear – Green v Reform. Hope v hate.” Last week a panel of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) rejected Mr Burnham’s bid to stand.

Constituent Beatrice Wood, 85, told The Mirror: “Oh God. I would have voted for Andy Burnham, I think he is doing well. But he’s not standing now.” Asked about the Reform candidate, she said: “No, definitely not.”

She said the biggest issue was bills going up: “The cost of living, everything is going up. A lot of money is being wasted, we didn’t get any of these handouts in the 40s when I was a kid.”

In Denton town centre James Pearson, 68, said: “I would have voted for Andy Burnham even though things have gone pear shaped for this government.”

Market stall holder Ann Duckers, 70, said: “I wish I had seen Farage and Goodwin as they’ll be getting my vote. A lot of people feel the same and are turning their back on Labour.

“There is too much illegal immigration in this country now. We need someone in power who will do something about it.” Asked about Mr Goodwin’s extreme views, she said: “It”s not good.

“This is a very mixed multi-cultural area and we all get on. What he said is a load of rubbish but hopefully he has changed his tune.”

Former nurse Bernie Scanlon, 61, said: “I voted Labour in the past but I don’t think I will this time. Something’s got to change.” She added: “From what people have been saying, I think Reform are going to win here. It’s good Farage showed his face here.”

Mr Goodwin sparked a row in November following a knife attack on a London-bound train which saw 10 people stabbed. After it emerged that the suspect was British, he posted on X: “These migrants do not instantly adopt the host country’s ‘British’ or ‘English’ culture and identity the moment they sign a few papers.”

Failure to win the by-election will be a hammer blow to the PM. One backbencher told The Mirror: “If we lose the by-election, the message is going to be that Keir Starmer sacrificed a seat to keep Andy Burnham out.

“That won’t play out well.” Labour MP Karl Turner said: “I spoke with (deputy Labour leader) Lucy Powell yesterday.

“Lucy is on the ground. Lucy is realistic. Doesn’t try to make it sound good if it isn’t. Lucy assures me that it’s good on the ground.”

He added: “If we don’t win this by-election the pressure on the gaffer will be intense. And that’s not what we need.”

Asked if Labour can win, polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice told The Mirror: “Yeah they can. Of course they can. They can. But probably only just if they do.

“And equally can Reform win it? Yes – probably only just if they do. Can the Greens do it? Well, more of a challenge on the evidence that we’ve got so far, limited as it is. Can’t be entirely ruled out.”