Labour and Reform Candidates Clash Over Women's Safety at Gorton and Denton Byelection Hustings
The political atmosphere grew tense at a recent election hustings in Greater Manchester for the Gorton and Denton byelection, as Labour and Reform candidates engaged in a heated exchange over women's safety and political rhetoric. The event, hosted by the Manchester Evening News, brought together candidates from multiple parties, with Labour's Angeliki Stogia and Reform's Matt Goodwin at the center of the most contentious moments.
Security and Safety Concerns Take Center Stage
Angeliki Stogia, the Labour candidate, directly challenged Matt Goodwin about his security detail, questioning why he needed protection while women in the constituency felt threatened by his political messaging. "Matthew, how can you be sat here with a couple of security guys following you around?" Stogia demanded. "When I, just this morning, was with a group of interfaith women representing our community, who told me that our women in this constituency, they're scared to leave their house because of the rhetoric that you have been peddling."
Goodwin, who arrived at the event with security personnel, defended his precautions by citing serious threats to his life. "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," he responded. He then turned the criticism back on Labour, suggesting that women's fears stemmed from immigration policies rather than political rhetoric. "Women are instead afraid because Labour was running a policy of open borders, which is putting women and girls at risk."
Broader Political Accusations and Counterattacks
The confrontation quickly escalated beyond immediate safety concerns into broader political accusations. Goodwin attacked Labour's historical record, stating, "I'm not going to be lectured to 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." He emphasized his belief that integration efforts in some parts of the country were failing, contributing to the need for his security measures.
The security presence around Goodwin has been notable throughout the campaign. When he was unveiled as Reform's candidate alongside MP Lee Anderson, heavy security was in place. Similarly, when Nigel Farage opened the party's campaign headquarters in Gorton and Denton last week, security measures were visibly enhanced.
Green Candidate Enters the Fray with Criticism of Division
Hannah Spencer, the Green party candidate competing for the same seat, also participated in the hustings and directed criticism at Goodwin. She described him as "an academic, bussed in from the south, spreading that party's message of division." Spencer added a pointed remark about his background: "You spent so long Matt, I think, researching far-right extremism that you did get a little bit confused and thought what you were reading was an instruction manual."
Spencer revealed that she too has faced security concerns in the constituency, having been accompanied by security after an incident where a "very, very angry" man shouted abuse at her. In response to Spencer's comments, Goodwin criticized the Green party's policies, claiming they wanted to legalize "all drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin."
Local Audience and Lighter Moments
The hustings was attended by a diverse group of local residents and workers, including doctors, college students, and representatives from various community and campaign organizations. Despite the intense political clashes, the event included lighter moments that reflected the constituency's cultural connections.
Candidates were asked to name their favorite Oasis song, referencing the Gallagher brothers who grew up in Burnage, part of the constituency. Liberal Democrat candidate Jackie Pearcey and Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden both mentioned Definitely Maybe, which is actually the name of Oasis's debut album rather than a song. Hannah Spencer declined to choose an Oasis song, preferring the Stone Roses if given a choice between the two bands.
Angeliki Stogia selected Supersonic as her favorite, prompting an unexpected moment of agreement from Matt Goodwin. "Goodness me, Angeliki, we have something in common, Supersonic is also one of my favourites," he said, adding, "so look at the hustings bringing everybody together." This brief harmony stood in stark contrast to the earlier contentious exchanges about security, rhetoric, and women's safety in the community.
The Gorton and Denton byelection continues to generate significant political attention, with candidates from Labour, Reform, the Greens, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats all vying for the seat. The hustings highlighted not only policy differences but also deep concerns about how political discourse affects community safety and cohesion in Greater Manchester.
