Labour and Reform candidates clash over women feeling threatened by far-right rhetoric

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondentFebruary 12, 2026 at 08:12 PM

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During a Gorton and Denton byelection hustings in Greater Manchester, Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia accused Reform candidate Matt Goodwin of using rhetoric that makes local women afraid to leave their homes. Goodwin, who attended the event with security due to alleged threats, countered that Labour's open border policies endanger women. Stogia criticized Goodwin's security detail, while Goodwin accused Labour of failing to address past sexual abuse cases. Green candidate Hannah Spencer also stated she required security after experiencing abuse in the constituency and criticized Goodwin as an outsider spreading division. The event, hosted by the Manchester Evening News, included attendees from the local community.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Green Party (England and Wales) 40% Manchester Evening News 40% Lee Anderson 40% Nigel Farage ×250% Greater Manchester 50% Denton ×260% Gorton ×260% Hannah Spencer ×360% Reform UK ×470% Labour Party (UK) ×470% Angeliki Stogia ×280% Matt Goodwin ×890%

Keywords

far-right rhetoric 90% labour 80% women's safety 80% reform 80% gorton and denton 70% security threats 70% byelection 70% political debate 60% open borders 60%