Polanski says Greens ‘must beat Reform extremist’ in Gorton & Denton

Writing in the Metro, Zack Polanski argues it’s imperative that the Green Party beats Reform in Gorton & Denton.

My article in the Metro.

Why the Green Party must beat the Reform extremists in Gorton & Denton.https://t.co/bnZ1d979og

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) January 29, 2026

Extremism

In the article above, Polanski notes:

We believe Goodwin is a dangerous extremist with views on race that the vast majority of us find absolutely abhorrent.

This is a man who says that being born and brought up in the UK doesn’t mean that people from black, Asian or other immigrant backgrounds are necessarily British.

He has discussed acts of horrifying violence, including people trying to set alight a hotel with asylum seekers inside, as merely a reaction to ‘mass immigration.’ He’s a vocal supporter of Viktor Orban’s authoritarian Hungary.

According to the 2021 Census, 29% of the Gorton and Denton population are Muslim, and 44% come from a black or minority ethnic background. Speaking on such people, Goodwin has said:

It takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody ‘British’.

It’s going to be pretty awkward for Goodwin if he doesn’t think his constituents are British; it would mean he’s 56% a British MP and 44% non-British.

Polanski also said:

What’s not clear is how much Goodwin actually believes what he’s saying, or whether he’s just espousing whatever beliefs he thinks will further his career. Not long ago he was critical of people like Tommy Robinson, and praising migration – now he sounds like merely a more articulate version of Robinson.

What is clear though is that whatever his motivation, time and time again Goodwin has sought to whip up divisions in our communities, using exaggerations and falsehoods to try and pit people against each other.

Polanski best watch himself with Reform candidate Matt Goodwin. After all, he’s already called the police on the Labour Party over a tweet he didn’t like:

Reform’s self-styled hard man couldn’t handle a tweet. Instead of answering critics, the party’s Matthew Goodwin ran straight to the police — writes @skwawkbox https://t.co/zDFMBLDjDl

— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) January 29, 2026

We thought that Reform were against criminalising people over tweets, but we guess not!

We know Goodwin is against it, anyway, because he literally said the following:

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

Labour sidelined

While Reform and the Greens duke it out, a befuddled Labour is left floundering:

This Labour chud is absolutely baffled at finding out the Green members elect their own candidates as opposed to have some briefcase wielding personality void foisted on them from above. https://t.co/uKfV75t4rR

— Dr Iain Darcy 🍉 🇮🇪 💚 (@doctoriaindarcy) January 29, 2026

This really is a battle between Reform UK and the Green Party. And as Polanski himself said:

Make no mistake – this by-election is a pivotal moment for this country. If we don’t fight hard, we’ll see the election of a dangerous charlatan – and a victory for the politics of hate.

But if we win, February 26 will mark a turning point – away from the dark path Reform are trying to take us down, and towards the kind of country people really want: hopeful, united, and strong.

Featured image via Barold