Reform accused of ‘cheating’ to win over votes in Gorton and Denton by-election

Reform UK is facing an investigation after distributing a leaflet from a ‘concerned neighbour’ to households in Gorton and Denton.

Letters were sent to voters in the Manchester seat from local pensioner Patricia Clegg endorsing the party’s candidate Matt Goodwin in the upcoming by-election.

Mrs Clegg’s note says she ‘did not want Keir Starmer to be prime minister anymore’ citing tax rises among reasons for her dismay at the current government.

The letter concludes: ‘After a lifetime of voting loyally, I feel I have no choice but to vote for Reform UK on Thursday, 26th February. Please think about doing the same.’

However the letter contained no indication as to who had funded it or arranged it to be printed.

Under election rules, campaign literature does not have to be branded, but an imprint indicating the party behind it is required to be included on all papers.

While many so-called ‘newsletters’ and pamphlets often contain only a small line indicating their allegiance, there was no such notice on the neighbour’s letter.

Mrs Clegg, 74, told the Guardian she was a Reform member and had been asked by the party to put her name to the letter.

However the letter’s printer, Hardings, said in a statement that the legally required imprint had been taken off due to a production error.

The Electoral Commission said that enforcement of campaigning rules was a matter for police.

Greater Manchester Police has since confirmed it will be investigating the case.

A spokesperson for Reform said: ‘The campaign commissioned a letter from a local constituent which was supplied to our print contractor with the full and correct legal imprint, fully compliant with election law.

‘Print ready proofs were provided by the supplier and approved by the campaign.

‘Those proofs clearly included the legal imprint in the correct form.

‘It has since become clear that an error occurred during the printing process. Due to a production failure by a third party print supplier outside of Reform’s control, the legal imprint was inadvertently removed at the point of printing without our knowledge.

‘At no stage did the campaign know about, authorise or intend the distribution of material without a legal imprint. The omission arose solely from a supplier error after compliant materials had been submitted and approved.’

A spokesman for Hardings Print Solutions Ltd said: ‘Hardings Printers has identified an error in the production of election leaflets printed and distributed on behalf of Reform UK for the Gorton & Denton by-election. We take our responsibilities in relation to election material very seriously and take full responsibility for this error occurring.

‘Reform UK did not request or authorise the removal of the imprint. The omission arose from Hardings Printers’ production process.

‘The party supplied artwork which correctly included the legally required imprint, and a compliant proof was produced and approved.

‘During the final trimming stage of production, the imprint was inadvertently removed due to an internal error at Hardings Printers, which was not identified before distribution.

‘We apologise to Reform UK and the voters of Gorton & Denton for this error.’

The contest in Gorton and Denton was triggered after Labour MP Andrew Gwynne stepped down due to ill health.

Labour is facing competition from both the Greens and Reform in the seat, with the by-election seen as an early indicator of the party’s support ahead of local elections in May.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, had indicated his interest in standing in the seat, but his bid to return to Westminster was blocked by the party’s National Executive Committee.

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