Hope not Hate have called for urgent support to help them campaign against Reform UK in the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, triggered by Josh Simons’ resignation as Labour MP on Thursday.
Simons reportedly stood down to offer a route back to the House of Commons for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is tipped to challenge for the Labour leadership if he returns to Westminster.
But Hope not Hate are warning of the dire threat from Reform – who took every council seat in that area at last week’s local elections with 46.2% of the vote – both in Makerfield and in a subsequent race for the Manchester mayor.
The anti-extremism organisation’s resources are severely depleted after conducting country-wide community-based campaigns in the run-up to the local and regional elections of 7 May. Now it needs rapid funds to get its ‘Vote Hope 2026’ operation back up and running as soon as possible.
“We don’t know the date yet. But we do know this: Reform UK will see this as a huge opportunity,” warns campaigns director Georgie Laming.
“Hope not hate has a rapid response plan for moments exactly like this: local organising, targeted leafleting, digital adverts, and more, to make sure Reform are challenged from the start.
“But after intense election campaigns in England, Scotland and Wales, we need urgent support to put that plan into action and make sure Reform doesn’t get a free ride.
“This month, in selected seats across Lincoln, Southampton, Hull and South Wales, we combined cutting-edge data profiles with tried and tested community campaigning and helped deliver progressive wins against Reform.
“Now we need to fire up our election machine once again.”
“I’ll be honest,” added Laming. “Our team is tired. These elections were absolutely gruelling. But in times like these, when so much is at stake, we know we need to keep pushing.”
Donations will not just pay for leaflets and advertising, she says, “it’s a message to our team of staff and volunteers that says, we won’t let hate win.
“Farage’s party is stronger and better funded than ever before and they will not wait. They will try to make Makerfield a symbol of their strength. And once the cameras leave, local people will be left with the consequences.”
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