Reform leader says without evidence that his party’s candidate came first among UK-born voters, as Hannah Spencer takes seat in parliament
Nigel Farage has been accused of Donald Trump-style election denial by the Green party’s new MP for Gorton and Denton, after he claimed her Reform rival “came first” among British-born voters in last week’s byelection.
Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England last week after winning 14,980 votes, more than 4,400 ahead of Reform’s candidate, who came second.
After the election, Reform reported allegations of “family voting” – where people appear to collude on votes in breach of secret ballot rules – to Greater Manchester police and the Electoral Commission.
Outlining a new Reform policy that he said would allow only British citizens to vote in parliamentary elections, Farage added: “I’m absolutely convinced that amongst British-born voters, Matthew Goodwin came first in their election last week. Of that, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever.”
