Politics Home | Reform Picks Former Academic Matt Goodwin As Candidate For Gorton And Denton

(Alamy)

2 min read27 January

Goodwin was once a university professor who co-authored a book about the rise of UKIP, the political party once led by Reform’s current leader, Nigel Farage.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, where he was unveiled as the Reform candidate, Goodwin said he was not a “career politician” or part of the “Westminster blob”, adding that his parents used to work for the NHS near the Greater Manchester constituency.

“This by-election is a referendum on Keir Starmer. It is a chance for the people of Gorton and Denton to have their say on Keir Starmer and make history,” he said.

“I will stand up for the local people of Gorton and Denton against the broken Westminster establishment. I will demand Britain fixes its borders, invests in our National Health Service, and clamps down on crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Labour won in Gorton and Denton with over 50 per cent of the vote at the last general election.

However, the contest, triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne as the seat’s MP on health grounds, is expected to be much closer this time around, with both Reform and Greens seen as serious threats to Starmer’s party.

Labour and the Greens are yet to confirm their candidates for the late-February by-election.

Senior Labour figures, including Prime Minister Starmer, rejected Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s bid to be the party’s candidate.

A victory for Goodwin would make him Reform’s ninth MP in the House of Commons.

Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Andrew Rosindell have all defected from the Conservatives to Reform in recent weeks, boosting the party’s parliamentary presence.