Rejoin EU candidate sets out regeneration and youth plans ahead of Gorton and Denton by-election

Joseph O’Meachair has been confirmed as the Rejoin EU Party candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election on 26 February.

The contest follows the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who stepped down on health grounds.

Founded in 2020 in response to the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Rejoin EU Party says it aims to provide a clear pro-European alternative. O’Meachair, a member of the party’s executive committee, previously stood in Preston at the 2024 general election, receiving 216 votes in a seat won by Labour.

In an interview with the Tameside Reporter, he outlined how his party’s central aim of rejoining the EU would shape his approach to local issues in Gorton and Denton.

Housing and HMOs

Addressing concerns about the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the constituency, O’Meachair said the issue should be tackled as part of a broader programme of urban regeneration.

He argued that the UK often looks inward for solutions and should instead learn from regeneration projects elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Rather than simply “twinning” towns, he suggested linking specific regeneration schemes in Gorton and Denton with comparable European projects to share expertise and best practice.

O’Meachair said that, as part of any future negotiations to rejoin the EU, he would seek access to regional development and social cohesion funding to support local schemes. He added that Gorton and Denton could serve as a pilot area for this approach.

He also voiced concern about over-reliance on social housing developments, arguing that creating more mixed communities - including a balance of ages and incomes -would help prevent what he described as “ghettoisation”. Drawing on examples from the Dutch city of Middelburg, he said mixed demographic communities could help create a more vibrant local economy and encourage private investment alongside council-led projects.

At the same time, he acknowledged the pressure on social housing waiting lists, saying the challenge was to make the area more attractive overall while meeting existing need.

Tackling antisocial behaviour

Antisocial behaviour has been raised by residents as a key issue in the constituency. O’Meachair said enforcement alone would not solve the problem and pointed to international examples, including Iceland, where investment in youth services and sports programmes has been credited with reducing youth disorder.

He argued that antisocial behaviour often stems from alienation, particularly among young people, and said meaningful alternatives such as sports, training and employment opportunities, were needed to break cycles of offending.

O’Meachair highlighted rehabilitation programmes within the prison system, such as schemes that train offenders for work in sectors like the railways, as examples of how individuals can be supported back into employment.

He said that, if elected, he would push for greater use of European social funding mechanisms, in the event of renewed EU ties,  to support youth development and community cohesion projects in the area.

Living in the constituency

O’Meachair confirmed he does not currently live in Gorton or Denton but said he would move to the constituency if elected. He said it was important for an MP to be embedded locally and to work directly with community groups and councils.

A broader message

Throughout the interview, O’Meachair returned to his party’s core message. He described the by-election as “the perfect opportunity to send a clear and unambiguous message to the government that Brexit has failed”.

“Our self-respect demands that we rejoin a strong democratic bloc,” he said, arguing that closer cooperation with European neighbours would benefit both the UK’s global standing and local communities such as Gorton and Denton.

Voters in the constituency will go to the polls on 26 February to choose their next MP.