NIGEL Farage believes Reform UK can capitalise on the Trigger Me Timbers scandal and make Matt Goodwin Denton’s MP.
The Reform UK leader visited the Tameside town on Friday, January 30 to back their candidate as the political battle ahead of the by-election heats up.
Mr Farage came to the doorstep of now former MP Andrew Gwynne, meeting supporters at the town’s Civic Square, just yards from the office from the ex-Labour Party man’s base.
And after visiting businesses in the town centre, Mr Farage told The Correspondent how the WhatsApp group that saw him and several councillors suspended – with six from the town set to be found in breach of the Tameside authority’s code of conduct – can play into their hands.
That may see a shift in political power for the first time since 1918 when votes are cast on February 26.
Mr Farage said: “I’ll tell you what happened here. If you look at the circumstances in which Mr Gwynne went, what was being said on those messages showed almost, ‘It doesn’t matter what we say, it doesn’t matter what we do. Labour have won here pretty much every time since 1918.’
“Human nature says that complacency sets in, a degree of arrogance sets in, so what you’re seeing is, ‘Right, enough of that. It’s time we shook everything up and went for change.’ I think that’s what’s going on.
“We were out of the blocks quickly and we’ve got lots and lots of people that are going out through the day, knocking on doors, and the sense of not being listened to, the sense of being taken for granted, the sense that something’s got to change is the overwhelming feedback we’ve had.
“That is feedback from knocking on thousands of doors.”
Denton is seeing several small businesses pop up in an attempt to rejuvenate the town centre, some of which come from migrant backgrounds.
And while Mr Goodwin was not exactly clear when he was unveiled that he would speak to them, his party leader offered more.
Mr Farage added: “Of course. We’ll back anyone who wants to start a business, obey the law, employ people, pay taxes. You bet your life.”
Reform UK’s team of canvassers hit the streets of Denton that day as they look to win the poll.
Mr Farage believes Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing increased their chances ‘by five-fold, by 10-fold, by 100-fold, by 1,000-fold.’
And Mr Goodwin highlighted local impact as the leader replied when asked simply, ‘Why should the people vote for you’: “We’re standing for change.
“We think the hollowing out of local businesses in high streets is a result of totally misguided government tax policy, local rate policy, and indeed levels of regulation we put on men and women doing their best to have a go.
“The fact that there are 20 houses of multiple occupancy that have been thrust upon people that living here is a source of real burning anger.
“We can’t promise to be miracle workers and we wouldn’t promise to be miracle workers, but we can promise that we’ll try and prioritise the needs of local people over young men who throw their passports into the sea at Dover and get put up for free in the same street in which they live.”
Mr Goodwin added: “I spoke to a lady when we were canvassing in Denton. She’d lived there 34 years. She said nobody had ever knocked on her front door.
“Nobody from politics, that is exactly what we’re talking about. Areas that have been controlled by Labour for decades, where Labour have taken voters for granted.
“What I’m saying to voters locally is, ‘Send a message to Westminster, vote Reform UK, get Keir Starmer out, but also put this area back on the map.
“’They will not ignore this area if it has a Reform MP. They will not look past the people of Gorton and Denton if they have a Reform MP.’
“Look how many vape shops there are. Look how many barbers there are. Look at how lovely the buildings are down here, but you can see the sense of neglect.
“What I’m hearing locally is, ‘We’ve had enough of this.’
“They’ve had enough of this ongoing neglect. And being treated essentially with a sense of contempt by the Labour Party.”