Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, has been elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Here is her victory speech:
I didn’t grow up wanting to be a politician. I’m a plumber. And two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified as a plasterer. Because even in chaos, even under pressure, I get things done. I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That’s what we do.
Except things have changed a lot over the last few decades. Because working hard used to get you something. It got you a house. A nice life. Holidays. It got you somewhere.
But now – working hard? What does that get you? Because talk to anyone here and they’ll tell you. The people who work hard but can’t put food on the table. Can’t get their kids school uniforms. Can’t put their heating on. Can’t live off the pension they worked hard to save for. Can’t even begin to dream about ever having a holiday. Ever. Because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry. I don’t think its extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. And if you’re not able to work, that you should still have a nice life.
And clearly, I am not the only person who thinks that. Because I’ve made clear my position and my commitment to working-class communities – the community I am from. People in their thousands told me, on the doorsteps and at the ballot box, that we are sick of being let down and looked down on. That we are sick of our hard work making people rich.
I lived in this constituency at one of the most difficult and challenging periods of my life. I saw how strong the community was at holding things together. But I saw how much harder life is when the things around you are broken. The litter, the fly-tipping, the dirty air. And when I moved it became even clearer. And this is why I am fighting, for the community I lived in and still work in. Because I absolutely refuse to accept that we should ever have to move and leave our communities for good schools, a thriving high street and clean air. I will not accept a society where having more money gets you a longer life expectancy.
And so when it came to fighting for people here, to stand in this election, well how could I not fight? Because here – this is what we do. We fight for each other. In this very diverse constituency, where our struggles may not always be the same but where we know how hard life can be. And we stick together. Whatever our beliefs, our backgrounds, our colour or our level of education. We stick up for each other.
To those who voted for me: I know earning your trust starts now. One vote on one night is not something I will take for granted or assume will happen again. I will earn your trust. And to those who didn’t vote for me: I will always work hard for you, and I will always be honest, and I will always be decent.
To our Muslim communities, who this week suffered an attempted attack during Ramadan. Whilst I was being welcomed by women at a mosque in Longsight, someone just down the road walked into a mosque carrying an axe. Whilst we were gathered and eating together, an act of terror could easily have taken place. And I can’t and won’t accept this tonight without calling out the politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me, human.
And of course, to our white working-class communities. The background that I have become proud to be from. We know how it feels to be looked down on. Maybe because we didn’t do well at school. Because we do dirty, manual jobs. Because we are shut out of places we should be in. To people in Denton, who feel left behind and isolated. I see you. And I will fight for you.
Because whilst our communities may sometimes be labelled in different ways, the thing everyone seems to have underestimated here is how similar we all actually are. How we have common ground. How we get along, how we stand up for each other. The cracks that were starting to show can be healed. And I believe that is through offering people hope, and a chance to do things differently. Do things better.
And to Layla. The little girl who I had the pleasure of meeting, and holding, this week. I promised you I would try and improve the world you are growing up in. I told you I am not perfect, but that I always try my best. I always try and do the right thing.
We have shown we don’t have to accept being turned against each other. We can demand better. Together. We have shown we don’t have to fight dirty to fight for change. We ran a hopeful campaign backed by thousands of volunteers and activists. We defeated the parties of billionaire donors.
Something exciting is happening – and I invite you to be part it. Come and join the Green party so we can spread hope and win everywhere else across the country too. Our strength will grow as more and more of us come together.
And we did this, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Just as we have always done in this constituency. Because this is Manchester. And we do things differently here.
