Hannah Spencer, a former mayoral candidate for Manchester and now a councillor in Trafford, has been selected by the Green party to run in the upcoming byelection in Gorton and Denton. The decision was made democratically through online hustings attended by local party members.
Spencer's nomination marks a significant move for the Greens, who see this byelection as an opportunity to challenge Reform UK, the new contender in the constituency. The Greens believe Spencer is well-placed to win due to her past residency in the area and her experience as a mayor candidate.
However, Labour is not taking this lightly and has launched a strong campaign to present themselves as the only credible left-wing option against Reform. The party argues that the Greens lack local experience, citing their absence of councillors and data, which could hinder their chances.
Spencer's victory would make her the Green party's fifth sitting MP, as well as their youngest ever member at just 34 years old. If she wins, it will also be a significant moment for the party in the North.
The Greens' campaign is being led by Zack Polanski, who has ruled out contesting this byelection to focus on a future parliamentary seat in London. Despite this, he expressed confidence in Spencer's abilities and backed her bid.
Reform UK, meanwhile, has chosen conservative commentator Matt Goodwin as their candidate. The Labour party is throwing the kitchen sink at this election, with several cabinet ministers involved in the campaign.
The Greens have secured an early endorsement from pressure group the Muslim Vote, which is backing Spencer due to concerns over other parties' stances on the Gaza war. However, some sources close to the campaign suggest that this support was initially assumed would go to a different candidate before Spencer's selection.
Spencer's nomination marks a significant move for the Greens, who see this byelection as an opportunity to challenge Reform UK, the new contender in the constituency. The Greens believe Spencer is well-placed to win due to her past residency in the area and her experience as a mayor candidate.
However, Labour is not taking this lightly and has launched a strong campaign to present themselves as the only credible left-wing option against Reform. The party argues that the Greens lack local experience, citing their absence of councillors and data, which could hinder their chances.
Spencer's victory would make her the Green party's fifth sitting MP, as well as their youngest ever member at just 34 years old. If she wins, it will also be a significant moment for the party in the North.
The Greens' campaign is being led by Zack Polanski, who has ruled out contesting this byelection to focus on a future parliamentary seat in London. Despite this, he expressed confidence in Spencer's abilities and backed her bid.
Reform UK, meanwhile, has chosen conservative commentator Matt Goodwin as their candidate. The Labour party is throwing the kitchen sink at this election, with several cabinet ministers involved in the campaign.
The Greens have secured an early endorsement from pressure group the Muslim Vote, which is backing Spencer due to concerns over other parties' stances on the Gaza war. However, some sources close to the campaign suggest that this support was initially assumed would go to a different candidate before Spencer's selection.
I'm low-key excited about Hannah Spencer being selected by the Greens 
. It's a big move for them, and she's got a great shot at winning in Gorton & Denton. I mean, she's been living in the area and was a mayoral candidate, so she knows what's up 
. The fact that the Muslim Vote is backing her too is a major win 
. Labour's trying to play the 'only credible left-wing option' card, but I think Spencer's got this 
. And let's be real, Reform UK's Matt Goodwin just seems like a posh bloke 
. The Greens need to get out there and show everyone what they're about 
. Bring on the byelection! 
. So, Hannah Spencer is gonna run for Gorton and Denton as a Green... because who needs actual local experience, right? 
Labour is throwing everything they've got at this one, and Reform UK has their conservative commentator Matt Goodwin. Meanwhile, the Greens are just over here like "oh, we have our first 34-year-old MP" 
. And what's with the Muslim Vote getting on board early? Like, was Spencer the only Green candidate available for them to swoop in and support? 
. Maybe he's right and this is like, the next step for him? And yaaas, if Hannah Spencer wins, it'll be a huge deal for the Greens in the North 
. I think it's cool that they're taking on Reform UK, who's trying to capitalize on the left-wing vote with Matt Goodwin as their candidate 
. But at the same time, Spencer's relatively young age (34!) and past residency in the area could be big advantages 
.
. And getting an early endorsement from Muslim Vote is a nice boost 
. However, I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes since some sources say it was initially meant for another candidate 
.
Does that mean we're losing touch with our local communities? Or are we simply finding new ways to engage and participate? The Greens' move to select a councillor based on her online performance raises interesting questions about authenticity and representation...
... but labour's throwing everything they've got at them which is fair play 
... the muslim vote backing spencer is interesting tho, hope it doesn't come across as opportunistic 
... can't wait to see how this plays out! 
she seems like an awesome candidate with tons of local experience 
i mean, being a councillor in Trafford already shows that she knows the area pretty well 
we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out 
. The Greens seem to be taking a risk by choosing someone from outside their ranks (Hannah Spencer), but it's also an opportunity for growth and learning 
. And what about the Labour party? They're trying to hold on to what they know, but sometimes that means missing out on new perspectives 
meanwhile Reform UK just looks like they're copying Labour's playbook 
.
!
ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THE GREENS HAVE CHOOSEN A GOOD CANDIDATE IN SPENCER - SHE'S YOUNG, PASSIONATE AND SEEMS TO KNOW HER STUFF. AND GIVE ME CREDIT FOR BEING A LITTLE BIT PREDICTABLE - I'VE GOT MY MONEY ON REFORM UK WINS THIS ONE! 