'The Forgotten Town': Denton's Cry for Change Amidst Political Turmoil
As you cross the border from Manchester into Tameside, the landscape shifts—not just geographically, but politically. The once-quiet town of Denton is now a sea of turquoise blue, with Reform posters plastered on windows, walls, and garden posts, signaling a brewing storm ahead of the 26 February byelection. But here's where it gets controversial: is this small town's disenchantment a cry for change, or a sign of deeper divisions?
Near the town center, Ian Singleton, 68, and his wife Irene, 66, proudly display a Reform banner in their front yard. Ian, a former soldier and builder, has watched Denton's high street wither over the past three decades. 'There are only two pubs left,' he laments, pointing out how social hubs have been replaced by 'hairdressers, nail shops, takeaways, and barbers.' He blames the government and 'some of the Tories' for killing small businesses and local culture. 'Everything’s just gone so expensive,' adds Irene, a retired textile worker, echoing the financial strain felt by many.
Their children, in their late 30s and early 40s, are trapped in the rental market, unable to afford homes. 'It’s virtually impossible for them to buy,' Ian says. He also mourns the loss of national pride in England, contrasting it with Wales: 'You know when someone’s Welsh—their flags and dragons are everywhere.'
And this is the part most people miss: Denton’s isolation isn’t just metaphorical. Just six-and-a-half miles from Manchester city center, the town feels worlds away. The Metrolink bypasses it, buses crawl through congested routes, and the local railway station was named Britain’s least-used in 2023-24, with just one return service a week. Council tax has risen, but services have dwindled—bin collections are less frequent, potholes scar the roads, and fly-tipped rubbish litters the streets. 'We are the forgotten little town,' one resident wrote on Facebook, noting the absence of festive decorations that adorn neighboring areas. 'Nothing. The little lost town. Forgotten.'
Meanwhile, the Gorton half of the constituency has boomed, with median house prices in Levenshulme rising twice as fast as Manchester’s average between 2013 and 2023. With nearly double Denton’s votes, Gorton is a battleground between Labour and the Greens, both claiming they can defeat Nigel Farage’s Reform Party. But this divide leaves an opening for Reform’s candidate, Matt Goodwin, who promises to be a 'very loud champion' for Denton’s neglected issues.
Ian, once a staunch Labour supporter, feels betrayed: 'Labour turned its back on the working people.' Yet, he’s uneasy with the St George’s flags now adorning buildings, associating them with racism and anti-foreign sentiment. Another Denton resident, who backs Reform but wishes to remain anonymous, admits, 'There’s a lot of Reform’s policies I’m not happy with—like their environmental stance or deporting people who legally contribute to society. I’ve had to sacrifice some of my beliefs.'
Here’s the kicker: The Green candidate, Hannah Spencer, challenges the notion that Reform has Denton’s vote locked down. 'Assuming a white working-class community will blindly vote for them was a mistake,' she argues. Yet, pockets of Reform support exist in Manchester too, though not without tension. Flags in Levenshulme have sparked hostility, with one resident declaring, 'Flags that make people feel unsafe have no place here.'
Gentrification has fueled resentment, pushing some toward Reform. 'Leve was built with proper people, not Chorlton wannabes,' one resident wrote. In a local pub, a drinker declared, 'I’m voting for Farage—we need a change.' Another added, 'A lot of people I know are voting Reform. All these Green posters? Liberal lefties can go back to Chorlton.'
However, political scientist Robert Ford warns that Reform’s path to victory isn’t straightforward. 'The challenge is logistical—how do you engage voters when door-knocking might yield one receptive voter for every five hostile ones?' He suggests Reform could win through a split vote between Labour and the Greens. But he cautions, 'Anyone who claims to know the outcome is either a fool or a fanatic.'
For Ian Singleton, the choice is clear: Matt Goodwin represents the best chance for change, a 'lad from around here' who could be 'the voice of the working person.' 'Let’s put it this way,' Ian says, 'I don’t think they can do any worse.'
What do you think? Is Denton’s turn to Reform a justified cry for change, or a risky gamble? Are the town’s grievances being exploited, or finally addressed? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
