Labour call on Reform’s Matt Goodwin to reject ‘racist content’ shared by team members

Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection must distance himself from “racist content” shared by members of his campaign team, the Labour party has said.

In a letter to Matt Goodwin, Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell MP, said an investigation by the Manchester Mill revealed five separate members who had campaigned with Goodwin had shared racist content online and had expressed support for far-right groups.

Goodwin is hoping to become Reform UK’s ninth MP in the hotly contested seat in Manchester, which could see Labour’s 13,000-vote majority overturned by a Reform or Green candidate.

The report, which referenced research from the anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate, highlighted social media posts by Goodwin’s interim campaign manager in Tameside, Adam Mitula. This includes his suggestion that “60-70%” of transgender people are paedophiles, that he would “never touch a Jewish woman” and his use of the n-word.

The Guardian also found tweets published by Mitula where he claimed there are “Muslim no go ghettos in the UK”. In addition, in response to a post on Black fathers, he wrote: “They are the best in leaving muims [mums] with no support. But those who care about families are very good people.”

Matt Goodwin is hoping to become Reform’s sixth MP to be elected by voters. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

The campaign manager also expressed support for the online influencer Andrew Tate, despite the fact Romanian and British authorities have been actively investigating him on suspicion of human trafficking and rape. In response to an interview with Tate by Piers Morgan, Mitula wrote in September of last year: “Well said by potentially future prime minister”.

The Mill also reported on another individual pictured campaigning with Goodwin, Kelly Cooling, who had allegedly shown her support for the far-right Britain First party last summer.

Alanna Vine, who has also been pictured with Goodwin during the campaign, was reportedly suspended by the Conservative party in 2022 for “social media posts which were deemed discriminatory towards those of the Islamic faith”, according to the Manchester Mill.

Goodwin’s campaign has been mired in controversy since he was announced as Reform UK’s candidate in late January. Just this week, he was accused of wanting a “Handmaid’s Tale future” after YouTube footage was discovered from 2024 in which he called for “young girls and women” to be given a “biological reality” check.

In her letter, Powell said Goodwin may not have been aware of the comments “when they offered to help your campaign, but you are aware of it now”.

“You can ensure that they are not part of your campaign in the future, make clear that you disagree with their vile views, and state clearly that racism and conspiracism like this is not welcome in Reform and not compatible with campaigning for you,” the letter read.

“If you do not now distance yourself from the views of these supporters, and take action to remove them from your campaign, people will conclude that you and Reform UK are happy to be associated with them.”

Reform UK and Adam Mitula have been contacted for a response.