Reform UK candidate says voters are ‘angry’ over HMOs, crime and decline of high streets

Tuesday, 27 January 2026 19:38

By Adam Clark

Credit: David Murphy / Roch Valley Radio

Reform UK’s candidate for the upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election has criticised the growth of houses of multiple occupancy, rising crime and the decline of town centres.

The comments were made during a press conference where Matt Goodwin was confirmed as the party's candidate for the February 26th election.

He was questioned about priorities for the Gorton and Denton constituency and what changes residents could expect if Reform UK were elected.

Asked what single concrete change would be delivered in the first year, should he be elected as an MP, Mr Goodwin said there was no single solution.

“I think people locally are very angry about HMOs. I think they're very angry about what's happening to the high street and what used to be thriving markets, and what's happened to the town centres.

“I think they're very annoyed about crime and anti-social behaviour. At what point did it become acceptable to just allow shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in this country. It seems that now we just shrug our shoulders and don't do anything about it.”

He claimed that local people are not properly consulted when HMOs are approved and argued that councils already have legislative powers to restrict them, but do not use them.

Discussion then turned to Denton town centre and recent attempts to encourage regeneration. Mr Goodwin said the party would support efforts to revive the town but argued that small and family-run businesses were being held back by business rates regulation and taxation. He said this was contributing to shop closures and changes to the character of local high streets.

Goodwin added: “I think there's a view locally that, relative to other parts of Greater Manchester, this seat has been neglected, and this seat has been left behind, and this seat has been ignored. I think one thing that would help in a meaningful way is having somebody in this seat that is used to actually squaring up with Westminster and calling out nonsense and saying it as it is.”

Reform UK now become one of two parties to declare their candidate for the election next month, alongside the Workers Party of Britain, where Shahbaz Sarwar will be their candidate. He is currently a councillor for the party on Manchester City Council, representing the city's Longsight ward.

Both Labour and the Green Party have been vocal about this election so far and are expected to name their candidates in the coming days.

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