‘A sectarian travesty’ : The Greens' dirty tricks in Gorton and Denton exposed | The Daily T

Gorton and Denton Bi-Election: A Deep Dive into Sectarianism and Political Tactics

Key Concepts:

• Bi-election: A state election held to fill a vacancy.
• Tactical Voting: Voting for a candidate not preferred, to prevent another candidate from winning.
• Sectarianism: Bias or discrimination, specifically relating to religious or racial groups.
• Overton Window: The range of ideas the public will accept.
• Red-Green Coalition: A potential political alliance between socialist/left-wing and environmentalist groups.
• Blue Wall: Traditionally Conservative-voting areas.
• Corbynism: The political ideology associated with Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the Labour Party, characterized by socialist policies and anti-establishment views.
• Omni Cause: A far-left ideology linking various progressive causes together.

I. The Highly Contested Bi-Election & Dirty Tactics

The Gorton and Denton bi-election is described as exceptionally close, leading to aggressive tactics from both Labour and the Green Party. Reform UK is also a contender, though currently polling lower. Labour has been accused by the Greens of “dirty tricks” – specifically, circulating a leaflet falsely claiming support from a non-existent organization, “Tactical Choice,” recommending voters support Labour to defeat Reform. This is characterized as one of the “dirtiest bi-elections ever fought.” Labour has deflected the accusation, pointing to alleged “dirty tactics” employed by the Greens.

II. Rising Sectarianism in UK Politics

Alistister Heath, editor of the Sunday Telegraph, argues the bi-election highlights a dangerous trend of increasing sectarianism in UK politics, where voting patterns are increasingly determined by race and religion rather than policy debate. He warns this represents a “retrograde step” and a threat to democracy, moving away from a system based on persuasion and swing voters towards a system of “arithmetic” – simply counting demographic groups. He draws parallels to the power-sharing arrangements in Lebanon and Northern Ireland, which he views as detrimental to genuine democratic function. Heath fears a future where political success relies on appealing to specific religious or ethnic groups rather than broad-based consensus.

III. The Green Party’s Transformation & Appeal

The discussion focuses heavily on the Green Party’s shift in focus. Traditionally an environmental party, it is now characterized as having adopted a far-left ideology, mirroring parties like LaSumiz in France. This transformation involves a deliberate strategy to build a “red-green coalition” – uniting “white woke progressives” with a “reactionary subset of the Muslim electorate” through shared support for socialism and, critically, “virulent Israelophobia and prejudice.” The party, now led by Zack Palansky (who declined to speak to The Telegraph), is accused of “pandering” to these sentiments. The original environmental focus of the Green Party is now considered “of historic interest.”

IV. Labour’s Response & Historical Precedents

Labour’s attempts to counter the Green Party’s surge are scrutinized. They are accused of hypocrisy in criticizing the Greens’ tactics, given their own history of employing “dirty tactics” during the Corbyn era. Examples cited include the alleged sending of a dead rat to Ian Duncan Smith’s office by Corbynista activists. Furthermore, a current scandal involving Labour Together (a Starmer-aligned group) allegedly hiring people to dig up dirt on journalists and passing it to GCHQ is mentioned. The discussion highlights a pattern of “mud slinging” from both sides.

V. The Role of Tactical Voting & Third Parties

The bi-election is complicated by the involvement of other parties advocating tactical voting. While the Liberal Democrats traditionally excel at this strategy, they are not considered competitive in this election. Tactical.Vote and StopTheTories.vote are recommending voters support the Greens to block Reform. Conversely, Sir Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats has urged voters to support Labour. This creates a confusing landscape where voters are being asked to vote against their preferred candidate to prevent another from winning.

VI. The Rise of Reform UK & the Fragmentation of the Right

The emergence of Reform UK, and the smaller Advance UK, is discussed as a factor fragmenting the right-wing vote. Reform is seen as a mainstream, center-right alternative to the Conservatives, potentially attracting voters disillusioned with the current government. However, the presence of more extreme right-wing parties like Advance UK (endorsed by Tommy Robinson) poses a risk of splitting the vote and potentially handing victory to the left. Heath notes that Reform has been successful in attracting some Hindu voters, while the Conservatives have traditionally held this demographic.

VII. The Shifting Demographics & Political Alignments

The conversation highlights a significant shift in political alignments based on religion and ethnicity. The Conservative party has increasingly appealed to Hindu voters, while Labour’s traditional base among Muslim voters is fracturing, with some potentially shifting towards the Green Party. Heath warns that this trend could lead to a situation resembling Lebanon, where political positions are allocated based on religious affiliation. He notes the Iranian community in the UK is a notable exception, being overwhelmingly right-wing and opposed to the Iranian regime.

VIII. The Far Left & the Overton Window

Heath argues the Green Party represents the most extreme party to ever achieve significant political breakthrough in the UK, describing it as a “communist-style party.” He believes the Overton window (the range of acceptable political discourse) has shifted, allowing for more extreme views to gain traction. He contrasts this with the past, when mainstream right-wing positions were often demonized by a “leftwing hegemony.” He acknowledges a recent increase in freedom of speech but warns against the dangers of far-right extremism.

Notable Quotes:

• Alistister Heath: “I hate the way this bi-election has ended up showing up the sectarian nature of a growing number of constituencies in the UK.”
• Alistister Heath: “Democracy is about debate… It’s not about counting members of one group and… if you win the demographic war then you’re elected.”
• Alistister Heath: “We’re turning into Northern Ireland to a certain degree… if things were not to change and current trends were to go on for a number of decades, we wouldn’t be moving towards some sort of Lebanese type situation.”

Conclusion:

The Gorton and Denton bi-election is presented as a microcosm of broader, concerning trends in UK politics. The rise of sectarianism, the transformation of the Green Party, the fragmentation of the right-wing vote, and the increasing influence of identity politics are all highlighted as factors threatening the foundations of a healthy democracy. The election’s outcome is seen as potentially pivotal, with the possibility of a far-left government or a continued erosion of traditional political alignments. The discussion underscores the need for a return to reasoned debate and a rejection of divisive tactics based on race and religion.