The Green candidate in next week's crunch Gorton and Denton by-election has been accused of being a 'property-hoarding hypocrite' after The Mail on Sunday uncovered details of her ruthless dealings in the housing market.
Party leader Zack Polanski has vowed to abolish all private landlords, tax the rich and bring in aggressive rent controls.
But his candidate, Hannah Spencer, 34, has amassed a £1.2million property empire - and offered tips on how to rip off first-time homeowners, flip properties and intimidate buyers.
She has boasted on mumsnet, urging sellers to avoid first-time buyers because they are usually 'gifted money from a family member... who make sure they're getting a good deal'.
Ms Spencer, the Greens' candidate for Manchester mayor in 2024, has criticised second homeowners for 'hoarding' properties and accused struggling landlords of pulling a 'woe is me act'. But Ms Spencer appears to be one of those second homeowners herself.
After her mother helped her buy her first home at 24, she has owned several properties - including a £736,000 second home apparently bought in August 2024.
She advises others how to squeeze more cash out of people. In one case where her buyers knew they were paying too much, she threatened them with selling to another buyer until they 'found' the money.
She even refers to those who hike offers in increments as 'stingy and more likely to haggle'.
The Green Party's candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election Hannah Spencer (pictured) has amassed a £1.2million property empire - and offered tips on how to rip off first-time homeowners, flip properties and intimidate buyers
Ms Spencer with the former leader of the Greens Caroline Lucas. Ms Spencer, the Greens' candidate for Manchester mayor in 2024, has criticised second homeowners for 'hoarding' properties and accused struggling landlords of pulling a 'woe is me act
In another extraordinary post, she admits discriminating against those who need to borrow more to meet her asking price. 'The banks are getting warier by the day', she said, adding she 'wouldn't accept an offer from anyone' needing to borrow more 'unless I absolutely had to'.
And she endorses second homes 'as an investment', also against Green policy.
Jo Platt, Labour MP for neighbouring Leigh and Atherton, said: 'Time and again the Greens say one thing and do another.
'One minute they're calling to abolish all landlords, the next they're backing a candidate with multiple properties.'
A Labour source added: 'She is a millionaire property-hoarding hypocrite.'
While a Green spokesman did not comment on some of the MoS's points, they said: 'Normal person has normal conversations years ago.
'It's five days to go, the Greens are winning, and the political and media establishment are going into smearsville overdrive.'
But it's not just her property empire that has drawn criticism. Her claims that she is a working plumber also do not quite stand up to scrutiny.
Ms Spencer poses for a selfie with the Green Party's leader Zack Polanski. Mr Polanski has vowed to abolish all private landlords, tax the rich and bring in aggressive rent controls but Ms Spencer appears to be one of those second homeowners herself
Ms Spencer posts on Instagram about 'being at work'.
But the background shows one of her own homes. She even says she is 'heading home after a long day' but neglects to mention she is already there.
In one post, she says she is 'looking for Reform's Matt Goodwin', posing with site gear, complete with work gloves.
However, she is again at one of her houses - outside the constituency.
In another she bragged: 'When you're a plumber and Zack P's making sure it's not YOUR taxes going up.' But her £1million of assets would be targeted by Mr Polanski's wealth taxes. In a video shot at her detached house, she later said she would need to sell shots of her feet online to afford new tools.
Ms Spencer has also said: 'Like lots of people, I'm new to politics'. But these claims don't stack up either.
Gorton and Denton will be her family's 19th election, including her mother's bid for Parliament.
In a Facebook post on Thursday's by-election, Mr Polanski said: 'This is what politics should feel like: thoughtful, honest and shaking things up.'
