Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British

Matthew Goodwin speaking at a press conference on Tuesday after being announced as the candidate for Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The Reform UK candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection has refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British.

Matthew Goodwin, a hard-right activist, was presented on Tuesday as the party’s candidate in the demographically diverse seat in south-east Manchester.