Reform UK Candidate Faces Scrutiny Over Racist Content Shared by Campaign Team
Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection, Matt Goodwin, is under pressure to distance himself from “racist content” shared by members of his campaign team, according to allegations made by the Labour party.
In a letter to Goodwin, Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader, stated that an investigation by the Manchester Mill revealed five individuals who campaigned with Goodwin had shared racist content online and expressed support for far-right groups. Goodwin is vying to become Reform UK’s ninth Member of Parliament in the hotly contested Manchester seat, where Labour’s 13,000-vote majority is considered vulnerable to challenges from Reform or Green candidates.
The report, referencing research from the anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate, highlighted social media posts made by Goodwin’s interim campaign manager in Tameside, Adam Mitula. These posts included the assertion that “60-70%” of transgender people are paedophiles, a statement that he would “never touch a Jewish woman,” and the use of a racial slur.
The Guardian also identified tweets published by Mitula claiming the existence of “Muslim no-go ghettos in the UK.” In response to a post concerning Black fathers, Mitula wrote: “They are the best in leaving muims [sic] with no support. But those who care about families are very good people.”
Mitula also reportedly expressed support for Andrew Tate, the online influencer currently under investigation by Romanian and British authorities on suspicion of human trafficking and rape. In response to an interview with Tate by Piers Morgan last September, Mitula wrote: “Well said by potentially future prime minister.”
The Manchester Mill also reported on Kelly Cooling, pictured campaigning with Goodwin, who allegedly showed support for the far-right Britain First party last summer. Alanna Vine, also 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.”
Goodwin’s campaign has faced ongoing controversy since his candidacy was announced in late January. Earlier this week, he was accused of advocating for a “Handmaid’s Tale future” after YouTube footage surfaced from 2024 in which he called for “young girls and women” to be given a “biological reality” check.
Goodwin also made comments last year describing as “insane” the 18-month prison sentence given to Luke Yarwood, of Christchurch, Dorset, for inciting racial hatred through social media posts. Yarwood’s original post called for British people to target hotels housing migrants and “burn them to the ground.” Goodwin posted at the time: “Welcome to the UK. Where you go to prison for 18 months for anti-immigration tweets. This represents insane.”
In her letter, Powell stated that Goodwin may not have been aware of these comments “when they offered to help your campaign, but you are aware of it now.” She urged him to “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.”
Powell warned that if Goodwin fails to distance himself from the views of these supporters and take action to remove them from his campaign, “people will conclude that you and Reform UK are happy to be associated with them.”
Reform UK and Mitula have been contacted for a response.
