The Green Party of England and Wales has come under fire for allegedly promoting sectarian voting with campaign videos aimed at the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection. The party released videos in Urdu and Bangla on Thursday, with plans to produce future materials in Arabic and Pashto. This byelection, marked by a tight competition among Reform UK, the Greens, and Labour, follows the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne due to health issues.
The Urdu video features British Prime Minister Keir Starmer alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by images of Gaza ruins and the term “Labour.” Candidate Hannah Spencer appears in the video, attempting to connect with Pakistani-origin voters, and speaks a few Urdu phrases alongside a native speaker. It controversially links Reform UK’s candidate, Matt Goodwin, to Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, concluding with Spencer donning a keffiyeh and extending “Ramadan Mubarak.”
Goodwin condemned the video as “blatant sectarianism,” criticizing its use of non-English language and its divisive nature. Green Party representatives defended their decision, stating the videos were intended to engage non-English speaking communities.
Hindus for Labour expressed strong disapproval, stating the campaign’s approach could deepen divisions between Indian and Pakistani communities. They criticized the Greens for drawing communities along religious lines rather than focusing on local issues that impact residents directly. Neeraj Patil, chair of Hindus for Labour, questioned the relevance of Modi in the context of a local byelection, emphasizing the longstanding cordial relations between Hindus and Muslims in the UK.
The backlash highlights the delicate balance political parties must maintain when addressing diverse communities, underscoring the importance of unity in local politics to avoid exacerbating tensions that undermine social cohesion.