Zack Polanski Calls On Labour To Apologise For Inventing Fake Tactical Voting Company
Zack Polanski has demanded Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell apologise for a by-election campaign leaflet featuring a fake tactical voting company.
The offending literature was sent to voters in Gorton and Denton on the eve of a crunch poll in the Labour-held seat.
It says: “The Tactical Choice says Vote Labour. Based on a new prediction made in the last 24 hours we are recommending voting Labour.”
However, no organisation called “Tactical Choice” actually exists.
Three real tactical voting organisations have already recommended voters back the Greens to stop Reform winning.
The leaflet says it is promoted on behalf of Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia.
Labour is locked in a three-way battle with the Green Party and Reform UK in the seat.
Bookies make the Greens odds-on favourites, followed by Reform and then Labour, for whom Andrew Gwynne won the seat at the 2024 general election with a majority of nearly 13,500.
In a letter to Powell on Wednesday night, Polanski accused Labour of “lying to voters”.
He said: “Did you approve this? Do you feel the Labour Party in government should be held to different standards in terms of honesty to the British public?”
Polanski added: “Lying to the voters, as you have been caught doing, raises the real prospect that Reform will be the beneficiaries, something you have said that you don’t want.
“As this is such an important issue, for the sake of your own reputation, I would strongly urge you to apologise to the voters of Denton and Gorton before the polls open in the morning.”
HuffPost UK has approached Labour for comment.
Dear @LucyMPowell,
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) February 25, 2026
Why did you invent a fake tactical voting company to stop the Green Party beating Reform?
I'm starting to think your letters haven't always been in good faith... pic.twitter.com/FxFh8zwnNk
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer said the choice for voters in the by-election was “unity or division”.
He said: “Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back.
“Reform’s Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren’t white can’t be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Our message on election day is clear.
“The prime minister is panicking and knows he has broken his promises to the British people. Vote Reform to ditch Starmer.”