The Elusive Campaign of Matt Goodwin in Gorton and Denton
On a frigid February evening in Levenshulme, a black Volkswagen people-carrier arrives outside a small parish church where a modest crowd has gathered. From behind the vehicle's tinted windows emerges Matt Goodwin, the Reform UK candidate for the Gorton and Denton byelection. Dressed in his signature gilet, he appears more like someone returning from a grouse shoot than a traditional politician. As he enters the church for electoral hustings, a leaflet is pressed into his hand—a flyer for the local Communist League branch advocating policies like "amnesty for all immigrants" and "defend Cuba's socialist revolution." This unexpected encounter highlights the unpredictable nature of Goodwin's campaign.
A Campaign Conducted Through Digital Channels
Matt Goodwin has maintained a curiously intangible presence throughout the constituency he seeks to represent. Despite his claims of daily campaigning since his late January candidacy announcement, few voters have actually seen him in person. Dozens of residents interviewed over two weeks in February reported no direct sightings of Goodwin on their streets or doorsteps. "He's probably chilling in St Albans," joked one young man crossing Stockport Road in Denton, referencing Goodwin's southern upbringing and distinctive home counties accent.
Goodwin's campaign appears largely designed for digital consumption rather than traditional grassroots engagement. It consists primarily of carefully curated media appearances, arranged meetings, and brief photo opportunities. A black car arrives at a location, the candidate emerges for photographs, content is captured, and then Goodwin is swiftly transported away—often back to Reform's headquarters on an industrial estate near the M67. This approach has created distance between the candidate and potential voters.
Controversy and Security Concerns
The campaign has generated significant controversy across the political spectrum. Accusations have flown regarding phantom polls, dirty tricks, and disinformation. Adam Mitula, a member of Goodwin's team, was reportedly suspended for racist social media posts questioning Holocaust death tolls and making offensive comments about Jewish women. Social media claims that Reform doctored photos to add posters in house windows were thoroughly debunked by FullFact. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has personally endorsed Goodwin.
This toxic environment has prompted heightened security measures. Requests to interview Goodwin or accompany him while canvassing have been consistently denied. A security guard at campaign headquarters warned journalists that "everything to the end of the car park is private land." Goodwin withdrew from a Gorton hustings, with campaign officials citing concerns about impartiality, though other candidates suggested it was because the venue couldn't provide a private green room.
The Candidate's Background and Motivations
Matt Goodwin presents a paradox: a self-proclaimed free-speech warrior who avoids unscripted encounters, a man with substantial financial independence who seeks an MP's salary, and a political commentator with a significant media platform who now focuses on local issues like bin collections and bus provisions. Goodwin boasts a substantial Substack following, regular appearances on GB News, and enough personal wealth to not require parliamentary income. This raises questions about his true motivations for entering the political arena.
The Constituency and Voter Sentiment
Gorton and Denton represents seven distinct areas combined into one constituency through 2023 boundary changes. This jagged territory stretches from gradually gentrifying south Manchester suburbs to post-industrial Tameside villages and towns eastward. The area presents both attractive and challenging environments, creating a microcosm of modern Britain with its fractures and disconnections.
Conversations in pubs, cafes, libraries, and supermarkets reveal limited enthusiasm for Reform UK and even less for Goodwin personally. Nigel Farage is described using terms like "chancer," "smooth talker," and "snake-oil salesman." Yet some voters express willingness to give Reform "a go" because "everyone else has messed up." Occasional racist sentiments emerge alongside genuine hospitality, highlighting complex voter attitudes.
Policy Positions and Campaign Challenges
Goodwin's policy positions have drawn particular scrutiny. He has advocated pausing all immigration for 40 years, similar to America's post-Ellis Island approach, with exceptions only for essential public services. He has described Englishness as "an ethnicity deeply rooted in people that can trace their roots back over generations" and suggested that people from minority ethnic backgrounds, even if born in Britain, aren't necessarily British.
When confronted about these views during the Levenshulme hustings, Goodwin became defensive. "I'm sorry, why would I want you to leave the country?" he asked. "When has anybody ever said anything like that?" He clarified that Reform's deportation policies would target only illegal immigrants, though he acknowledged that "legal" and "illegal" are malleable terms defined by governments.
Opposition Perspectives
Hannah Spencer, the Green party candidate, has actively challenged Goodwin's positions. "When I hear something racist or xenophobic, I will challenge it," she stated. "But there's a huge group of people considering Reform who aren't racist, who often don't fully understand what Reform are like. They don't know what Matt Goodwin has been saying. When I've told people what he says about Muslims, what he says about women, people are really shocked."
Spencer also addressed criticisms about Goodwin not being from Manchester: "You don't have to be from here to be one of us. I really wholeheartedly believe that. However, I don't believe he's interested in wanting to make this area better. I think he's just doing it because it's a step on his career ladder. He wants the status and the attention and the ego."
The Culture War Focus
Throughout the campaign, Goodwin has shown particular enthusiasm for culture war issues rather than local concerns. During hustings, his attention appeared to wander when residents raised practical matters like air quality, fly-tipping, and traffic gridlock. What truly animated him were debates about immigration, national identity, and broader cultural conflicts—politics reinterpreted through the lens of online commentary rather than community service.
This approach reflects a broader right-wing strategy: politicians demonstrate enough interest in voter concerns to pursue their own ideological agendas. As Gorton and Denton prepares for Thursday's polling, the fundamental question remains: What does Matt Goodwin truly believe? By the time voters discover the answer, the election may already be decided.
