THE GREENS have named a plumber and former Manchester mayoral candidate to run in the Gorton and Denton by-election, as Labour trails in what’s being dubbed a “Green v Reform” race.

Green leader Zack Polanski warned there are “just days to stop Reform” as the hard-right party’s leader Nigel Farage hit the campaign trail in Gorton alongside his own candidate, GB News presenter Matt Goodwin.

Mr Polanski announced today that 34-year-old Hannah Spencer “will be a brilliant MP” for the Greater Manchester constituency.

Labour’s national executive committee blocked current Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham last Sunday from running in the by-election, which was called after Andrew Gwynne stood down as an MP, officially for health reasons, after messages came to light in which he insulted elderly constituents.

The Greens leader described Ms Spencer as someone who “genuinely wants to roll up their sleeves and work for the community,” adding they have “just days to stop Reform and make hope normal again.”

“This is a crucial by-election,” Ms Spencer agreed. “The choice is clear – Green v Reform. Hope v hate.”

She claimed only the Greens would be able to beat the hard-right party, as Labour languishes in the polls. Labour is due to select its candidate today.

Ms Spencer said Reform is “a party that loves Trump, that is backed by big finance and an extreme candidate who sees this place as just a rung on the radical right career.”

She added: “Muslims don’t keep me awake at night. I don’t lose sleep over trans people trying to exist in peace. What keeps me up at night is child poverty.”

Mr Farage claimed his party has got “every chance of winning” if they are able to turn out voters on February 26.

The Reform candidate, Mr Goodwin, launched his campaign saying the vote will be a “referendum on Keir Starmer.”