Labour Calls Out Reform's By-Election Candidate Over Racism Allegations Against His Campaign Team

Labour has called on Reform’s by-election candidate to reject members of his campaign team who have been accused of posting racist content online.

Matt Goodwin is standing to be Reform’s ninth MP in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which will take place on February 26, in the three-horse race against the Greens and Labour.

Mancunian newspaper The Mill reported on Saturday that multiple members of Goodwin’s team have posted problematic content on social media.

It alleged that Adam Mitula – Reform’s interim campaign manager in Tameside – had alleged “60-70%” of transgender people are paedophiles, claimed he would “never touch a Jewish woman” and used of the n-word.

In one post he reportedly downplayed the impact of the Holocaust, writing: “6 million polish [sic] people including some Jews. They always use Poles to make up the number. And on top of it they claim Poles were killing. Just sick.”

The investigation also claimed three other figures joining Goodwin on the campaign trail – Kelly Cooling, Alanna Vine and Jacqui Harris – had all shared extreme content online, too.

Labour’s deputy leader and Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell wrote a letter to Goodwin urging him to reject their support.

She wrote: “You may not have been aware of this when they offered to help your campaign, but you are aware of it now.

“You can ensure that they are not part of your campaign in the future, make clear that you disagree with their vile views and state clearly that racism and conspiracism like this is not welcome in Reform and not compatible with campaigning for you.”

She then pointed out that far-right leader Tommy Robinson had already endorsed Goodwin’s campaign and claimed: “It is not surprising that people with disgusting racist views think that you represent them.”

“If you do not now distance yourself from the views of these supporters, and take action to remove them from your campaign, people will conclude that you and Reform UK are happy to be associated with them,” she added.

The Mill was unable to approach Goodwin for comment, but he replied to Powell’s post on X.

“Hi Lucy I’d reply but your replies are off [clown emoji],” he said.

“I reject all extremism,” he wrote. “Can I also ask: Why has your Labour Party promoted so many people with links to paedophiles and turned a blind eye to the abuse of children? Come back to me when you have your own house in order.”

Goodwin is alluding to the scandal surrounding Peter Mandelson, who was briefly appointed as ambassador to the US despite his close ties with dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Keir Starmer also appointed Matthew Doyle to be a Labour peer earlier this year, his former communications chief who campaigned for ex-Labour councillor after he admitted to indecent child image offences in 2017.

Both Mandelson and Doyle no longer have the Labour whip.