In a tense by-election debate, Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer attributed the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing to her Reform opponent, Matt Goodwin, rather than the perpetrators or their ideology.
Manchester Arena Bombing Overview
Salman Abedi carried out a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017, killing 22 people, including eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos. His brother, Hashem Abedi, received a minimum 55-year sentence for aiding the plot and faces additional charges for attempting to murder three prison officers.
Exchange in Gorton and Denton By-Election Debate
During the BBC debate, Goodwin highlighted politicians’ reluctance to examine causes of such attacks. Spencer responded, “What we did after the terror attacks was we came together and we stuck up for each other.”
Goodwin pressed, “But you have never asked why are those things happening. Why are they happening?” Spencer countered, “Because people like you are dividing people.”
Goodwin later described the accusation on social media as the campaign’s “most surreal moment,” emphasizing radical Islamism as the true cause.
Wider Debate on Security and Discourse
Conservative MP Neil O’Brien noted that security guard Kyle Lawler observed the bomber but hesitated, fearing accusations of racism. This incident underscores challenges in addressing potential threats amid concerns over divisive rhetoric.
By-elections often intensify rivalries, reflecting broader UK discussions on balancing frank dialogue with unity on sensitive topics like extremism and public safety.
