4th March 2026

Campaign literature distributed by the Green Party during the Gorton and Denton by-election has prompted discussion across the constituency after different versions of a leaflet were circulated in both English and Urdu.

The materials, promoting Green candidate Hannah Spencer, featured a photograph of her wearing a keffiyeh outside a local mosque. The English-language leaflet reportedly carried the headline:

“Stop Islamophobia. Stop Reform.”
Vote Green for a fairer, more compassionate community.

It went on to criticise both Labour and Reform UK, arguing that Labour had “lost its moral voice” over Gaza and that Reform’s policies would divide communities. The English version framed the contest as a choice between what it described as inclusive politics and “fear-based campaigning.”

Meanwhile, a separate leaflet distributed in Urdu — aimed at parts of the constituency with large Pakistani-heritage communities — reportedly included stronger wording. According to media accounts, it urged voters to:

“Push the falling walls one more time. Labour must be punished for Gaza. Reform must be defeated, and Green must be voted for. Vote Green for a strong Muslim voice.”

The differing tone between the English and Urdu materials has drawn criticism from political opponents, who argue that tailoring messages by language is legitimate but that varying emphasis — particularly around religion and foreign policy — risks deepening divisions.

Labour representatives described the messaging as “inflammatory” and accused the Greens of attempting to mobilise voters primarily on the basis of international events rather than local priorities such as housing, schools and NHS provision. Reform campaigners also criticised what they characterised as sectarian appeal.

In response, Green Party representatives defended their outreach strategy, stating that providing campaign information in community languages is a normal part of engaging a multilingual electorate. They maintain that the party’s core message — opposition to Islamophobia, support for Palestinian civilians, and rejection of Reform UK — was consistent across all materials.

The controversy has become one of the defining flashpoints of a closely watched by-election, highlighting broader national debates about identity politics, foreign policy, and how parties communicate with Britain’s increasingly diverse communities.