Manchester’s famously inclement weather gave a fitting, if slightly inauspicious welcome to Reform UK’s campaign in Gorton and Denton, which officially kicked off today (February 5).
But adverse conditions didn’t deter the campaigners, supporters and canvassers who turned out in their dozens to watch as Reform officially entered what is shaping up to be a hotly contested race in this constituency on February 26, triggered by former MP Andrew Gwynne stepping down from his post last month.
Reform UK supporters stood in orderly rows, holding their signs aloft as the men of the hour came out: party leader Nigel Farage, gleefully holding aloft a pair of scissors, and his candidate in this constituency, Matt Goodwin.
Speaking to the media, Farage and Goodwin took a fairly defiant, bullish tone, addressing everything from immigration, to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Denton’s high street, and inevitably, the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal that saw Andrew Gwynne suspended from the Labour party 12 months ago. But outside, both warmly thanked their supporters.
Farage then cut the baby blue ribbon spanning the Reform HQ doors, now held tight by an aide as it had gone floppy in the breeze, to more cheers from the crowd.
Reform may be confident – Farage could be heard telling the Press Association he thought they had ‘a really good chance’ – but, like all the parties contesting this election, they’ve still got a lot of ground to cover before constituents head to the polls in three weeks’ time.