Libertarian candidate Dan Clarke calls for “balance, accountability and less state interference”

Dan Clarke, Northern Co-ordinator for the Libertarian Party, is standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, saying he wants to push back against what he describes as “ever-increasing encroachment on our civil liberties”.

A seasoned campaigner who has twice stood in parliamentary elections and at local level on multiple occasions, Mr Clarke says he is offering voters a clear alternative built on limited government and lower taxes. He works as a cashier at Asda.

“Gorton and Denton deserve far better than what they have had so far,” he said. “They deserve a Parliamentarian who will be held accountable by his constituents, while holding this government to account.”

HMOs and finding a balance

On the issue of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), Mr Clarke acknowledged the need to strike a balance between property rights and community concerns.

“As libertarians, we believe in freedom,” he said. “People should be allowed to operate and invest, but housing standards have to be there.”

He said residents’ views must also be taken into account where HMOs are causing disruption, adding that location and suitability matter.

Manchester’s large student population means HMOs can serve a clear purpose, he noted, particularly for those studying temporarily in the city.

“That’s absolutely beneficial for them,” he said. “But it’s about getting the balance right.”

Mr Clarke suggested that mediation between landlords and communities could help address tensions where they arise, while maintaining appropriate standards.

Antisocial behaviour and responsibility

Antisocial behaviour around Gorton and Denton was another concern raised by readers.

Mr Clarke said his party’s starting point is personal and parental responsibility.

“If it’s teenagers causing trouble, the first port of call is the parents,” he said. “It’s their responsibility to know where their kids are and who they’re hanging around with.”

While he said there is a role for enforcement where necessary, he stressed that the state should not automatically be the first solution.

“Our first priority is issues being sorted at home before more state intervention,” he said.

Living locally

Mr Clarke currently lives around 25 miles from the constituency but said he would move closer if elected.

“I’m not a million miles away,” he said. “If I do get in, I would move.”

He described himself as “a northerner through and through” and said proximity allows him to understand local concerns.

A call for change

Mr Clarke argued that the area has seen long-term political dominance without sufficient improvement in living standards.

“If we keep voting for the same, we’re going to keep having the same,” he said.

He called for attracting greater business investment into both Gorton and Denton, reducing barriers for employers, and working with local authorities and the Greater Manchester mayoralty to improve prosperity.

“There’s still deprivation and unemployment in parts of the constituency,” he said. “We need a giant uplift in standards.”

He added that regeneration efforts must be balanced across both sides of the constituency, acknowledging that some neighbourhoods face greater challenges than others.

The Gorton and Denton by-election takes place on 26 February.