Reform UK issues statement over by-election leaflets in Gorton and Denton

Reform UK is facing backlash after campaign letters distributed in the Gorton and Denton constituency failed to include a legally required imprint stating who funded and distributed them.

The letters, which were delivered to dozens of households on Friday 6^th February, appeared to be written by a “concerned neighbour” and were signed by Patricia Clegg, who described herself only as a “local pensioner, 74 years old”. They were written in a handwriting-style font and criticised Labour, the Greens and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while encouraging support for Reform UK.

The leaflets did not include an imprint identifying the promoter or printer, as required under electoral law.

Reports state Ms Clegg confirmed she is a member of Reform UK and said she had agreed to write the letter at the party’s request, but she had not been made aware of the legal requirement for an imprint.

Images of the letter were widely shared on local Facebook and WhatsApp groups, prompting complaints from residents.

In a statement, a Reform UK spokesperson said the campaign had commissioned the letter with “the full and correct legal imprint, fully compliant with election law”, but that “an error occurred during the printing process”. The spokesperson said the imprint was “inadvertently removed at the point of printing” without the campaign’s knowledge, adding: “At no stage did the campaign know about, authorise or intend the distribution of material without a legal imprint.”

Hardings Print Solutions, the Middlesex-based company that printed the letters, said it was taking full responsibility for the error.

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission reiterated that all printed election material must carry an imprint identifying the promoter and printer.

The letter itself stated that the author had previously voted Labour but felt let down, claiming recent tax rises had cost pensioners “an extra £160 that we cannot afford”. It also criticised the Green Party, describing some of its policies as “extreme”.

Responding to questions from the Tameside Reporter, Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised Reform UK’s approach. He said he believed Reform was “panicking” as the campaign intensified, adding that the Greens were offering “hope” through policies aimed at lowering bills, protecting the NHS and rebuilding public services.

Investigations into the leaflet distribution are ongoing, and no conclusions have yet been reached.