Polanski calls out Reform’s byelection ‘rent-an-extremist’

As we reported, Reform have chosen long-time establishment insider Matt Goodwin to stand in Gorton & Denton. There was already a backlash to Goodwin when we published that piece; since then, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has made his feelings clear:

It tells you everything you need to know that Reform are parachuting in a rent-an-extremist – this isn't about representing the people of Gorton and Denton, it's about using this place as a platform for their careers.

Manchester will show him the door.

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 27, 2026

‘Rent-an-extremist’

As we reported, Goodwin is an elite establishment insider. This is from his own website:

He is regularly in demand as a keynote speaker including after dinner and client-facing events. He has given evidence to various parliamentary committees including the Home Affairs, Education and Public Bill committees and has privately briefed some of the world’s most well known political leaders including Prime Ministers and Presidents of major advanced Western democracies. He appears regularly in international and national media including BBC News, Financial Times, New York Times and Politico, among many others.

In other words, he’s another dinner circuit dandy.

As Polanski noted, Goodwin is known for his extreme opinions; case in point:

If anyone is “insane,” it's Matt Goodwin.

Yarwood posted “Head for the hotels housing them [asylum seekers] and burn them to the ground” and “violence and murder is the only way, start with migrant hotels, the MPs homes and take parliament by force”.

It was a crystal clear case… https://t.co/eTsoTrkCos pic.twitter.com/WlCEdalPSI

— GET A GRIP (@docrussjackson) December 18, 2025

While you do have to take social media posts with a grain of salt, we should probably draw the line at calling out specific targets for assassination.

As much as we agree with the ‘rent-an-extremist’ point, we should clarify something else from Polanski’s tweet. While Goodwin isn’t a Gorton & Denton man, he does have ties to Greater Manchester, having studied at the University of Salford and completed a “Postdoctoral Fellowship” at the University of Manchester. If that sounds a bit elite to you, it is. We personally don’t mind a bit of the old academia, but then again we’re not running around screaming about ‘elites’ while literally being on the same gravy train as them all.

While some are claiming Goodwin was born and raised in Manchester, we’ve not actually seen that confirmed. He certainly isn’t from Gorton & Denton anyway, and the experience of being a city centre academic is obviously very different to living in one of Manchester’s outer boroughs.

Fighting all sides

Polanski isn’t just taking it to Reform. Labour MP Mike Tapp suggested Polanski is telling porkies about the Green’s chances in Gorton & Denton:

Our rally tonight is already sold out, Mike.

But thanks for the extra publicity.

Labour are done. https://t.co/pDXgLOeuO9

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 27, 2026

While some polls have predicted a Labour win, it is the case that others favour the Greens:

Just admit you’re cooked and move on brother https://t.co/LDympAXkxp pic.twitter.com/R55fQPKEjE

— Hugo Papé 💚🌱🌍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇵🇸🇬🇱 (@HugoPap2) January 27, 2026

If this pans out, Reform and Goodwin are going to be left with egg on their face. Quail eggs no doubt. Because that’s what they serve on the establishment dinner circuit.

Featured image via Cnbrb