The Green Party has strongly dismissed claims by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that its victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election was secured through “sectarian voting and cheating”.
Farage’s comments came after Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin finished well behind the Greens’ Hannah Spencer, who secured the seat with a majority of nearly 4,500 votes in a closely fought contest that pushed Labour into third place.
Following the close of polls on Thursday night, independent observers Democracy Volunteers reported they had witnessed “concerningly high levels of family voting” during the day.
Family Voting Concerns Raised By Election Observers
Family voting occurs when two people enter the polling booth together, potentially influencing each other’s vote.
Democracy Volunteers director John Ault said: “Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10 year history of observing elections in the UK.
“We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.
“In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby we saw family voting in 12% of polling stations, affecting 1% of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68% of polling stations, affecting 12% of those voters observed.”
Farage And Goodwin Criticise Result As Greens Defend Mandate
In a post on X shortly after the result was declared, Farage said: “This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating.” In a separate post, he added that the level of family voting “raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas”.
This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating.
Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us.
Roll on the elections on May 7th.
It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) February 27, 2026
In a statement, Matt Goodwin said: “We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged.”
A Green Party spokesman rejected the criticism, saying: “The scale of our victory shows that the Green Party has picked up substantial support in all parts of the constituency, in all areas, among all people.
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“It was a victory for unity over division, for hope over hate. Our message to lower bills, protect the NHS and public services and for peace and human rights was a message which resonated here, to all voters in this by-election.”
Greens’ leader Zack Polanski indicated he would support further scrutiny if recommended.
He told BBC Newsnight: “I think it’s important that there’s full transparency about the democratic process, and if the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps then yes I’d support that.”
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