https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/greens-name-plumber-hannah-spencer-candidate-green-v-reform-race

THE GREENS have named a plumber and former Manchester mayoral candidate to run in the Gorton and Denton by-election, as Labour trails in what’s being dubbed a “Green v Reform” race.

Green leader Zack Polanski warned there are “just days to stop Reform” as the hard-right party’s leader Nigel Farage hit the campaign trail in Gorton alongside his own candidate, GB News presenter Matt Goodwin.

Mr Polanski announced today that 34-year-old Hannah Spencer “will be a brilliant MP” for the Greater Manchester constituency.

Labour’s national executive committee blocked current Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham last Sunday from running in the by-election, which was called after Andrew Gwynne stood down as an MP, officially for health reasons, after messages came to light in which he insulted elderly constituents.

The Greens leader described Ms Spencer as someone who “genuinely wants to roll up their sleeves and work for the community,” adding they have “just days to stop Reform and make hope normal again.”

“This is a crucial by-election,” Ms Spencer agreed. “The choice is clear – Green v Reform. Hope v hate.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-march-caracas-demanding-return-maduro

THOUSANDS marched in Caracas on Thursday demanding the return of the country’s kidnapped president and his wife.

President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were abducted by US forces on January 3 in an overnight raid that saw 83 people, 32 of them Cuban soldiers, killed.

The demonstration, called by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), called for “respect for our sovereignty and the immediate release of the presidential couple.”

It followed a briefing to the US Senate by Washington’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, in which he threatened Venezuela with further attacks should it defy US instructions.

PSUV mobilisation secretary Nahum Fernandez declared: “We denounce their vile kidnapping and tell the world: we want them back! Maduro, hold on! The people support you!”

Mr Fernandez said the PSUV was consulting “social movements, political organisations, grassroots leaders and the people” with an aim toward “permanent mobilisation” against external threats.

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