Reform UK has been accused of selecting a “dangerous” right-wing activist and GB News commentator as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election
Reform UK has been accused of selecting a “dangerous” right-wing activist and GB News commentator as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Nigel Farage’s party unveiled academic-turned-activist Matt Goodwin, who was embroiled in a grim racism row last year, as its pick for the February 26 contest.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Goodwin declared himself “not a part of the establishment” and branded the by-election a “referendum on Keir Starmer ”.
But critics of the political commentator warned he is a “rent-an-extremist” who is desperate for recognition. Labour said Mr Goodwin represents divisive politics and will “drive a wedge between communities” in the Greater Manchester constituency.
The Mirror takes a look at who Mr Goodwin is – and the reaction to him being selected as a candidate.
READ MORE: Matt Goodwin announced as Reform UK’s by-election candidate – recap
‘Radical-right’ activist
HOPE not hate (HNH) has previously described Mr Goodwin as having gone from being “a serious academic working to understand the drivers of far-right extremism” to “one of the most effective radical-right figures in the UK”.
The anti-racism organisation has highlighted a “racial element” to Mr Goodwin’s idea of Britishness, including a 2024 Substack article about Britain’s “demographic CRISIS”, which warned that “the share of the country’s population that identifies as “white British” is forecast to become a minority group around the year 2070”. HNH adds that Mr Goodwin’s “more extreme positions are those concerning Islam and Muslim integration”.
Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at HNH, said: “Matt Goodwin is an opportunist extremist, whose sad desperation for recognition would be amusing if he wasn’t so dangerous.
“His background as a serious academic on the far right has led him to essentially reverse-engineer his own research to build a career as a radical right influencer. Goodwin will do or say anything on the hunt for more clicks and subscribers – and now for votes. The people of Gorton and Denton deserve better than someone who is using their community as a platform for his own career.”
Racism row
In November, Reform was accused of embracing “blatant racism” after selecting Mr Goodwin as its honorary president of the new Students4Reform organisation.
The Liberal Democrats criticised the party after Mr Goodwin suggested that people from minority ethnic backgrounds who are born in the UK are not necessarily British.
In a series of posts on X, Mr Goodwin said a mass stabbing on a train in Huntingdon was due to “mass uncontrolled immigration”.
When it was pointed out that the attacker was born in Britain, Mr Goodwin said: “So were all of the 7/7 bombers. It takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody ‘British’.” Out of the four 7/7 bombers, three were born in Britain and had Pakistani heritage. The fourth was born in Jamaica but grew up in Britain.
Labour urges voters to reject Reform ‘poison’
Responding to the selection, Lucy Powell, Labour’s Deputy Leader, said: “Matt Goodwin represents the kind of politics that will drive a wedge between communities in Manchester. Reform have misjudged the mood around Manchester and they won’t put the priorities of working people first. They just offer division, animosity, and hatred – not the unity and pride which our city stands for.
“Only a vote for Labour can stop Reform’s toxic politics and guarantee residents have a local champion that will cut their cost of living as their new Labour MP.”
In a direct letter to voters in the area, Ms Powell warned: “Recent polling is clear that this is between Labour and Reform. No one else is in this race, so sitting it out or planning a protest vote will not stop Reform – it will help them.”
The MP for Manchester Central lists examples of positive change under Labour, including cuts to NHS waiting lists and an increase in the minimum wage. The letter, seen by The Mirror, adds: “What would Reform do if they were in charge? Destroy the NHS, pander to Putin and scrap workers rights. They only offer resentment, blame and division. These people are the worst Tory Party rejects and we don’t need their poison here.”
‘Rent-an-extremist’
Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said: “This by-election is a straight contest between hope and hate. The Green Party will be out campaigning every day, to improve the cost of living by taxing the super rich.
“We alone will be taking the fight to Reform, whose selection of a man with a track record of anti-Muslim bigotry in a community with a good history of community relations is an insult to the people of Gorton and Denton.
“It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in this rent-an-extremist – this isn’t about representing the people of gorton and denton, it’s about using this place as a platform for their careers.”
‘Professional wind-up merchant’
Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: “Reform UK’s selection of Matthew Goodwin proves they are a party built on a single foundation: division.
“Like Nigel Farage, Goodwin has made a career out of talking our country down. He is a professional wind-up merchant, more interested in chasing headlines than putting an end to the cost of living crisis facing families. We cannot allow the divisive politics of Trump’s America to become the blueprint for Farage’s Britain.”
Goodwin says he’s not part of ‘Westminster blob’
Appearing at a press conference in the constituency to announce his candidacy, Mr Goodwin said: “I am not a career politician. I am not a Tory. I am not part of the establishment. I am not part of the Westminster blob.
“I am, like many people in this seat and millions of people in this country, hard-working taxpayers who are just fed up of watching what is happening to their communities and to their home.”
He added: “This by-election is actually a referendum. It’s a referendum on Keir Starmer. “It’s a chance for hard-working, law-abiding people, tax-paying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history.”
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne, who stood down citing health reasons. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – seen as a key challenger to Keir Starmer – had tried to throw his ring in the hat but was blocked from taking part in the contest. Labour won the seat with more than half the vote – 18,555 – in 2024, with Reform coming second at 5,142 votes and narrowly beating the Greens at 4,810.