Reform UK has stormed to the top of the opinion polls with its vow to tear up the political map.
But Nigel Farage‘s party may have taken that vow too far after it kicked off a Westminster by-election campaign with a rally in the wrong constituency.
Reform chief whip Lee Anderson last night posted pictures on social media showing volunteers ready to hit the doorstep in Gorton and Denton, a seat the party has high hopes of winning.
He wrote: ‘Gorton and Denton. A cold but productive day in what will be a hotly contested seat. Reform UK fear no party. Bring it on.’
However, his Mancunian followers were quick to point out that the crowd of around 100 Reform activists were pictured standing outside the Stanley House Function Rooms in Audenshaw.
The building is not in Gordon and Denton, but is instead inside Angela Rayner’s neighbouring Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency.
Mr Anderson told the Mail the building was used as a base because it had ‘a big enough car park to accommodate our volunteers’, who then went on to canvas in the right area almost half a mile away.
But Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: ‘Farage’s Reform are proving from day one they won’t stand up for local residents in Gorton and Denton – they can’t even find the constituency on a map.’
Reform chief whip Lee Anderson last night posted pictures on social media showing volunteers ready to hit the doorstep in Gorton and Denton, a seat the party has high hopes of winning.
However, his Mancunian followers were quick to point out that the crowd of around 50 Reform activists were pictured standing outside the Stanley House Function Rooms in Angela Rayner’s neighbouring Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency.
In response Mr Anderson said: ‘There is nothing to see here other than desperation from a desperate party.
Over 100 volunteers turned up to campaign in the constituency. A Labour constituency that has had no representation in Parliament for nearly a year.
‘Our volunteers came from far and wide and a location with a big enough car park to accommodate our volunteers was chosen just outside the constituency. All volunteers then left to campaign in the constituency.’
The Gorton and Denton by-election is expected to take place on February 26, after disgraced former minister Andrew Gwynne stood down for health reasons.
Reform UK will announce its candidate for the contest this afternoon at a press conference in the constituency.
Labour’s political rival from the left, the Green Party, is also eyeing up its chances in the race after Keir Starmer blocked Andy Burnham from standing.
The Greater Manchester mayor today accused No10 of lying about the by-election spat today.
The former minister said claims he had been told that the party’s ruling national executive committee would reject his bid to stand in the Commons contest were ‘simply not true’.
Downing Street sources have been briefing that Mr Burnham went ahead with a formal application to be the candidate on Saturday despite the warning.
Sir Keir has dismissed calls from more than 50 MPs for a rethink of the decision, with allies saying the issue is ‘done and dusted’.
Meanwhile, tensions have been rising with unions after the new head of Unison Andrea Egan called for a lurch to the Left. She warned that the party ‘cannot allow those currently in charge to take us down with them’.
There are signs that Angela Rayner is positioning for a tilt at the top job after she gave a speech last night insisting the party has to stop blundering and be ‘unapologetically Labour’.
Senior figures acknowledge that Labour is staring down the barrel of losing Gorton & Denton in the contest – being rushed through on February 26.
Reform and the Greens are both bullish about their chances, despite former MP Andrew Gwynne having secured a 13,000 majority in 2024.
Having barred Mr Burnham, Labour looks to be struggling to find a big name to be its candidate. Manchester council leader Bev Craig ruled herself out last night.
However, the PM has sounded defiance, stressing that Mr Burnham was refused permission because he would have triggered an election for Manchester mayor, rather than due to the threat of a leadership challenge.
