Britain’s newest Green Party MP has made a major promise to Muslim communities in her victory speech after Friday morning’s by-election victory.
Hannah Spencer, who won the seat of Gorton and Denton by-election by more than 4,000 votes, vented at politicians for “scapegoating” the Muslim community as she addressed the crowd.
The by-election sweeper said she could not accept the victory without “calling out the politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society”.
She also told Muslim voters that they had more in common with white working-class communities than believed.
Ms Spencer said both “know how it feels to be looked down on”.
“Maybe because we didn’t do well at school, maybe because we do dirty manual jobs, because we are shut out of places we should be in,” said Ms Spencer.
She added: “One vote on one night is not something I will take for granted or assume will happen again. I will earn your trust.
“And to those who did not vote for me, I will always work hard for you and I will always be honest.
She then promised to “always be decent to our Muslim communities, who this week suffered an attempted attack during Ramadan”.
She was referencing an incident at the Manchester Central Mosque this week, which police clarified on Wednesday saw “no suggestion of verbal threats or confrontation”.
“Last night, a concerning incident took place here at Manchester Central Mosque,” a statement said.
“A man with a bag containing an axe was acting suspiciously, during a congregation involving hundreds of worshippers.”
A man in his 20s was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault, and he remains in police custody for questioning.
The first suspect, a man in his 50s, was arrested at the mosque on Tuesday, and remains in custody.
She said an act of terror “could have easily taken place” as she visited Muslim women in a mosque in Longsight.
Ms Spencer pledged to “do things better” and “stand up for each other” within Parliament.
She also took aim at the billionaire class amid the cost-of-living crisis.
She said “working hard used to get you something”, but said Gorton and Denton voters were now working hard while being unable to “put food on the table”, unable to pay their heating bill, and unable to afford a holiday.
Ms Spencer said: “Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires.
“We are being bled dry, and I don’t think it’s extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life.”
Second-placed Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin blamed his loss on sectarian politics.
However, he said the outcome was positive for Reform UK, which earned 10,578 votes, and added that the Green Party was unlikely to be able to replicate their results across the country.
