Angeliki Stogia, Labour’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, accused Reform’s candidate Matthew Goodwin of “demonising immigrants” at a hustings in Manchester
Some women living in a key by-election battleground are scared to leave their homes because of the rhetoric peddled by Reform UK, a Labour candidate has warned.
Angeliki Stogia, Labour’s pick for the Gorton and Denton by-election, accused Reform’s candidate Matthew Goodwin of “demonising immigrants” at a hustings in Manchester.
In a heated session, a furious Ms Stogia slammed Mr Goodwin for being accompanied by security during the campaign when women in the constituency are living in fear due to the party’s division.
The February 26 battle is set to be a major test for Keir Starmer who was forced to fight to save his leadership only this week. Reform UK is battling to pull off an upset in the Labour-held seat, while the Green Party is seeking to squeeze Labour’s vote on the left. The campaign has already shown signs of becoming vicious, with accusations of misleading claims and divisive politics.
READ MORE: ‘Snowflake’ Reform by-election candidate ‘runs scared’ after skipping hustings
On Thursday, the by-election candidates clashed in a tense row erupted at a panel event hosted by the Manchester Evening News, after candidates were asked whether Donald Trump’s ICE could influence immigration policy in the UK.
Mr Goodwin, who dodged the specific question on ICE, descended into a rant about how immigrants were stopping British families getting homes.
Criticising houses in multiple occupancies (HMO) being used to accommodate migrants, the GB News presenter said: “How is it right and how is it fair that British families, British young people, British military veterans are not able to get on the housing ladder, but we are making homes available to people who are breaking our laws and also charging British people £15billion over the next few years for the privilege?”
In response, Ms Stogia told Mr Goodwin: “Matthew, how can you be sat here with a couple of security guys following you around, when I just this morning, I was with a group of interfaith women, representing our community who told me they’re scared to leave their house because of their rhetoric that you have been peddling.
“You say that people like me, that have lived here for over 30 years, this country is not ours and it belongs to us, this is not the Manchester I know. We need to control managed migration that supports our economy, combined with serious investment in our public services. Division is very easy. Delivery is harder and I am here to do the hard work.”
She added: “Demonising immigrants is not going to resolve the problems that we are facing. I’m very happy to have a discussion about the things that you just raised, but it should not be an isolated discussion targeting a specific ethnic group.”
Referring to the grooming gangs scandal, Mr Goodwin said: “I’m not going to be lectured to you by a labour politician from a party that consistently failed to investigate the mass rape and sexual abuse of working-class kids in this country for 30 years.
“The reason women and girls are being sexually assaulted, largely, is because… your government is running a policy of open borders, which are putting women and girls at risk.
“And the reason I have security is because I have very real threats to my life in an area where people assure me, everything is fine and clearly in some parts of this country integration is not working as it should be, we need a responsible conversation about how this country is not working.”
In response to the question asking about the influence of Mr Trump’s ICE on the UK, Green candidate Hannah Spencer said: “I think it’s really terrifying what we’re about to see over here, and I think certain politicians are just cozying up to Trump, thinking that we can do what they’re doing.
“And I’m really worried for my friends and neighbours who are immigrants themselves, or the children of immigrants who have kept our city region moving for decades and decades and decades.”
Liberal Democrat candidate Jackie Pearcey said: “I am absolutely appalled by what ICE is doing in America. It’s horrific. People have been shot on site. They’ve been locked up without any of their rights. People with valid visas and green cards are being held in what about two concentration camps?
“It’s an absolute abomination, and frankly, scrapping our human rights here is not going to help that in any way. And we need to absolutely be clear that what they are doing is wrong, completely wrong.”