Labour launches attack on Greens as pollster tips Polanski’s party to win crucial Gorton and Denton by-election
Labor has launched a social media attack on the Green Party after pollsters and MPs warned Zack Polanski’s party could win the Gorton and Denton by-elections.
As voters prepare to go to the polls in the Greater Manchester seat on February 26, Labor has released a video ad imploring them not to turn their backs on the party and support the Greens.
The post attacks Green policies on drug legalization while highlighting polling that shows Labor is the party closest to rivaling Reform in the constituency.
But Labor MPs briefed privately Independent They said they expected the Greens to benefit from a tactical anti-Reform vote in the by-election triggered by anger at Labor and the announcement of former Labor MP Andrew Gwynne’s resignation from Parliament.
With deep divisions erupting within the Labor Party over Manchester mayor Andy Burnham being blocked from running for the must-win seat, there are fears the so-called “Caerphilly scenario” will hit Labor and voters will turn to the Greens instead.
In last year’s Caerphilly by-election for the Senedd in Wales, Labor lost the seat it had held for more than a century and finished third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform.
A Labor MP said: Independent: “I will try hard for us to win, but the leadership made it very difficult for us.”
Another said: “They want us to go and knock on doors but we all know it’s between the Greens and Reform. It’s all over Caerphilly again. The Greens winning is actually the worst case scenario because it confirms they’ll give us our vote.”
The concerns come as the Greens have climbed dramatically at the polls since Mr Polanski was elected leader.
Professor Sir John Curtice said: Independent: “This could be a four-way fight between Labour, Reform, the Greens and George Galloway. The latter two will compete for Muslim votes as they did in the seat in 2024, splitting them and causing great damage to Labor.”
Pollster Lord Robert Hayward said: “I can foresee the Greens winning. I think it’s worse for Labor because it defines a British alternative to Labor on the left that the SNP and Plaid currently deliver in Scotland and Wales.”
Mr. Polanski said recently: Independent He wants “the Greens to replace Labor”.
But Labor is fighting back against the scenario with a new campaign video posted on Facebook and YouTube.
Here voters are shown the New Statesman/Britain Predicts poll, which puts Labor second behind Reform UK, which announced Matt Goodwin as its candidate on Tuesday; The Green Party ranks third.
Labor is directing voters to this video, which will be published as a non-skippable embed on YouTube. It was seen by more than 100,000 people in the first hour after it was uploaded.
Last week, an angry Sir Keir targeted the Greens for “being involved in drugs and being soft on Putin”.
But Mr Polanski, whose party was preparing to finalize its candidate on Thursday evening, said: Independent He’s optimistic about his chances in the by-election.
He said: “The Greens are against Reform. We’re already seeing it on our doorstep. It’s definitely game on. We plan to run this campaign like it’s never been done before.”
He added: “If you want a political story that defines the politics in our world right now, this is it. Big money versus society. We stand against the UK versus their defense of Trump. This is hope versus hate. We must win.”
Announcing the new ad campaign, a Labor insider said: “Zack Polanski has spent his days trying to sell false narratives. If Polanski had actually read what he wrote he would have realized the Green Party voted third in Gorton and Denton. The Greens are definitely not in the race.”
“With Reform electing a candidate who is trying to drive a wedge between communities here in Manchester, we cannot risk the Greens misleading voters about the state of the race and letting Matt Goodwin in through the back door. The stakes are too high.
“That’s why it’s important that we cut to Polanski’s Westminster pancake and make it sound like he’s saying it directly to Mancunians. We know anti-social behavior upsets people in local communities. So locals will be up in arms when they discover the Greens’ plans to legalize all drugs.”
They added: “The Greens are well on their own if they think Manchester will fall for it. Labor is the only party capable of taking on the divisive politics of Reformation.”
