GB News presenter unveiled as Reform by-election candidate

Reform UK have unveiled GB News presenter and academic turned activist Matt Goodwin as their candidate to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Speaking at a press conference, Goodwin said he was "not part of the establishment" and promised to give people in the constituency "a voice" in Westminster

The by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency was triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, who stepped down for health reasons.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham had hoped to stand to be the constituency's MP but was blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, a move that has angered some MPs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who chairs the committee, said Labour's resources should be "focused on the elections that we must have, not the elections that we don't have to have".

If Burnham had been successful in a by-election it would have triggered a mayoral election to replace him in Greater Manchester.

Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter urging the NEC to reconsider its decision.

At the 2024 general election, Labour won the seat with a 13,000 majority. Reform UK came second with 5,000 votes, narrowly beating the Green Party into third party.

Other parties are yet to announce their candidates for the by-election, which is expected to take place on 26 February.

Goodwin said the by-election was "a referendum on Keir Starmer".

"It's a chance for hard-working, law-abiding people, taxpaying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history," he said.

He told the audience "Manchester made me" adding that his grandfather worked at a steel factory in the city while his mother worked for the University of Salford, which Goodwin later attended.

He said that as a student he had delivered pizzas in the Gorton and Denton area.

As an academic, Goodwin taught and researched politics, writing books on populism, Brexit and the rise of UKIP, another right-wing party which was also led by Nigel Farage.

In recent years he has slightly moved away from studying the politics of the right to becoming an activist, frequently speaking at Reform UK events.