Reform byelection hopeful criticised over ‘deeply sexist’ fertility remarks

Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection has been accused of wanting a “Handmaid’s Tale future” after unearthed YouTube footage revealed he called for “young girls and women’ to be given a “biological reality” check.

- Alexandra Topping Political correspondent

In a clip posted to his personal YouTube channel in November 2024, Matt Goodwin stated: “Many women in Britain are having children much too late in life.”

He said: “We need to also explain to young girls and women the biological reality of this crisis. Many women in Britain are having children much too late in life and they would prefer to have children much earlier on.”

The comments, first reported by the Independent, have angered many people, with one MP describing it as an “alt-right fantasy” and an equality campaigner calling it “truly troubling”. The revelations come days after the paper revealed Goodwin had previously suggested people who did not have children should be taxed extra as punishment.

Sarah Owen, the Labour chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, said the comments were “deeply offensive” and appeared to blame women for the declining birthrate.