Reform by-election candidate branded ‘snowflake’ who’s ‘working scared’ after skipping hustings
Labour accused Matt Goodwin of running away from the debate after being unable to pack the venue with his supporters, and claimed he had demanded a private green room
Matt Goodwin skipped the hustings(Image: STEVE ALLEN)
Reform’s by-election candidate has been branded a “snowflake” who is “running scared” after dropping out of a hustings for the Gorton and Denton seat.
Labour accused Matt Goodwin of running away from the debate after being unable to pack the venue with his supporters, and claimed he had demanded a private green room. Announcing his decision online, Mr Goodwin, who has argued that people from minority ethnic backgrounds who are born in the UK are not necessarily British, claimed he had “concerns about the impartiality of the hustings.”
In a statement, he said: “I have serious concerns about the impartiality of the hustings that have been organised for tonight. Previous statements by the organising group give the clear impression that a fair and level platform will not be provided for all candidates, so on that basis I will not be attending.”
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His failure to attend was ridiculed by his political rivals. Responding, Andrew Western MP, Labour’s political lead on the campaign, said: “Matthew Goodwin’s dramatic last minute withdrawal from last night’s hustings just shows what we already know. He is a snowflake.
“Someone attempting to pack the room with Reform supporters from outside the constituency, against the organisers wishes and demanding a private green room is not interested in listening to the people of Gorton and Denton, only in himself.”
There was also criticism from the Green leader Zack Polanski. He told The Mirror : “Reform politicians are happy to throw insults from a distance. But when it comes to debating their ideas? They bottle it. Farage refuses to debate me – and now Matt Goodwin has run scared of our candidate in Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer. They won’t get in the ring because they know that their nonsense and lies could be knocked down with a feather.”
It comes just days after The Mirror revealed Nigel Farage had been accused of having no answers to Britain’s problems – by Mr Goodwin. In a series of historic posts, Mr Goodwin claimed Mr Farage does not have the answers to Britain’s problems”, and that the “Reform party doesn’t have the answers to Britain’s problems”.
The crunch by-election will be held on February 26 after suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne announced he was stepping down. Labour ‘s candidate in Gorton and Denton is Angeliki Stogia, a councillor, who is also facing off with Green councillor Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber.
Reform UK has been approached for comment.
