The Green party of England and Wales has selected Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a constituency split between Greater Manchester and Wigan. The contest is seen as a test case for Labour under Andy Burnham against Reform UK, which recently won 24 of 25 council seats in Wigan.
Internal Green party discussions have considered stepping aside to avoid splitting the progressive vote and allowing Reform to win. Senior figures, including former leader Caroline Lucas, have urged a scaled-back campaign in exchange for a future promise of electoral reform. Labour MP Rupa Huq cited a 2017 precedent where Greens stood aside for her in Ealing Central and Acton.
However, many Greens argue that such calls misunderstand the party's new role. Under leader Zack Polanski, the Greens have surged in popularity, now polling as the second most popular party according to YouGov. They see themselves as a genuine force for change, not a Labour faction.
Critics note that Labour's policies under Burnham have already shifted rightwards on immigration, fiscal rules, and transgender rights, suggesting that Green competition is necessary to push progressive change. They also argue that Labour bears some responsibility for Reform's rise by failing to address disenfranchised voters.
In the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, Labour urged the Greens to stand aside but the Greens won convincingly, pushing Labour into third place. This outcome has emboldened those who believe the Greens should contest every seat.
