Denton’s Labour candidate slams Trigger Me Timbers group

ANGELIKI Stogia is not a woman who takes no for an answer – and is willing to front up to any issues.

Which is why she is not ducking the big one that brought the Gorton and Denton by-election, Trigger Me Timbers.

Ask many in the Tameside town and the Labour Party is damaged goods after the emergence of a WhatsApp group which saw the now former MP Andrew Gwynne and several councillors mock people and even sections of the community.

A council standards hearing, at which former leader Cllr Brenda Warrington was told panel members would have considered suspending or sacking her if they had the power, found six in breach of its code of conduct.

Now the candidate is facing that issue head on, as well as others that people on her campaign trail ahead of the February 26 poll told her about.

Even a photo of her with Cllr Warrington soon after the hearing, at which many say she turned a hole into a crater, was not off limits.

Speaking about Trigger Me Timbers, Angeliki said: “These comments, they were shocking and the Labour Party took action. This is why I’m here today.

“Some people are very, very angry about it. Some people recognise the work that Andrew Gwynne did throughout the years, but they all agree that these comments should not have been made.

“They were unacceptable and I understand that people are still upset. In terms of what was said and the people who said it.

“They know that they were out of order. There was a process undertaken by the Labour Party and they were suspended.

“We are where we are. What is important to me is hearing from the residents about their concerns and working together to deliver on that.

“I’ve heard those concerns from people while campaigning. There’s a section that feels very, very upset about it, but I want to have that conversation.

“It is important for me to hear what people feel about it. You are a servant of the public. You should not speak like that.

“I understand the feeling around the photo with Cllr Warrington, but she’s a councillor. She’s a Labour Party councillor and she wants, just as much as everyone else, to defeat Reform.

“So I am working with everyone across the party to get this over the line. Everybody’s experience, everybody’s input is welcome. We’re fighting this together.”

Trigger Me Timbers and the resentment towards both what was said and who said it is an issue that has been seized on by Angeliki’s 10 opponents, particularly Reform UK, who are focusing much oof their effort on Denton.

Their candidate, Matt Goodwin, and the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer are both tipped to end Labour’s parliamentary hold on the town which has lasted since 1918.

But the Manchester City Councillor for the Whalley Range ward believes what she will do after listening to residents, rather than what she will say will see her through.

And if Tameside Council or even the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is wrong, they will be told so.

She added as she highlighted issues surrounding the Destination Denton scheme, Russell Scott Primary School and the cycle lanes project that has sparked many complaints: “You start with listening.

“People have got a lot of things to get out of their chest. But people also have a lot of ideas.

“There’s so much pride in the community. I was at the Tameside Wellness Centre the other morning. I have never seen anything as outstanding. That place is just such a gem.

“What both Reform and the Greens are guilty of is shouting slogans and not giving real answers.

“But politics is the work of sitting down, having someone opposite, working together, pulling everybody together and responding to their concerns. It’s about having a plan.

“The Greens are saying, ‘Wealth tax.’ How much is it going to bring in? You want to decriminalise drugs. Do you know how that looks like in our community?

“Everything I’d say to Matt, he would portray a negative. Something that raises his numbers. He’s about creating headlines from the challenges.

“And Hannah is the leader if the Greens in Trafford. What has she done? I’ve never really heard her talk about what she’s done as a councillor.

“I am about doing the actual work. Should I get this, I can imagine that my first advisory is going to be upwards of 50, 60, 70 people.

“I met with residents here and people want to see more adequate policing.

“They were talking about those who are doing wheelies and they have the fast sort of electric bikes, all wearing black. It needs to be tackled.

“I want to work with the council, with the mayor, with the Police and Crime Commissioner to solve the real issues that people are talking about.

“When I first started in politics, I was the woman at the back. I was trying to get seen and have my voice listened to as I want people to have their say.

“Even if they tell me, ‘You’re not doing this right.’ If you don’t know what people want, how are you going to act on their concerns?

“You’ve got to know what the real problems and challenges are and solve them.

“I will always be there for the people of Gorton and Denton when the times are good and when the times are hard. This is part of what you do as a politician

“I will be fighting together with Andy Burnham, together with the Labour government, with Tameside Council – but when I need to, I will take them to task. I will demand for more.

“I am about action and delivery. “

Angeliki cites three examples of where she has ‘banged heads together’ to address issues in her ward, even against Manchester City Council decisions.

But as the clock ticks towards polling day, she told The Correspondent of one thing that will make her angry – slamming the door in her face.

She continued: “I someone doesn’t want to talk, I am upset about it. I am disappointed, because when people are angry and they tell you things, you can engage with them.

“It’s sad that I don’t have the opportunity to hear.

“Politicians have promised things they have not delivered and I know people feel that way now.

“I am equally as frustrated and angry. I am angry about it.

“But I don’t take no as a councillor. That that’s the person that I am.”

11 candidates are standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, on Thursday, February 26.

The full list is:

Nick Buckley (Advance UK)

Charlotte Cadden (Conservative Party)

Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party)

Matt Goodwin (Reform UK)

Sebastian Moore (Social Democratic Party)

Joseph O’Meachair (Rejoin EU Party)