Labour has launched an attack on the Green party for wanting to legalise all drugs, as the parties compete to be seen as the main leftwing challenger to Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton byelection. The contest, expected in late February, follows Labour’s decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing as its candidate, despite a 13,000 majority.
Labour’s targeted online adverts highlight Green deputy leader Zack Polanski’s policy, which the party describes as “extreme and dangerous”. A Labour spokesperson said: “The Greens just aren’t serious and their extreme and dangerous policy to legalise all drugs just exposes that. A vote for the Greens in Gorton and Denton just risks letting Reform in through the back door.”
The Greens hit back, stating that “attempting to weaponise the very serious public health issue of drugs is an insult to the families of the thousands of people who die of drug-related deaths every year”. A Green spokesperson claimed it was a “two-way race now between the Greens and Reform”, adding that “all of our evidence from the doorsteps is that the Labour vote is collapsing”.
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell dismissed the Greens’ chances, saying: “The Greens can’t win here. So voting Green is really risky because it risks letting Reform in. We lost a byelection in Runcorn by six votes because people voted Green.” Reform has selected hard-right activist Matthew Goodwin as its candidate, while the Greens are expected to field Trafford councillor Hannah Spencer or deputy leader Mothin Ali.
The byelection was triggered after former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne stood down following a scandal over offensive WhatsApp messages. Labour hopes to consolidate the anti-Reform vote, but faces a three-way battle with the Greens and Reform, both of which came second in the seat in 2024.
