The Green Party has faced criticism after fielding a candidate in the Makerfield by-election, with some questioning the decision to stand in a seat where they polled just 3 per cent. The party's initial candidate, Chris Kennedy, was forced to step down after less than 24 hours when a video emerged in which he labelled an attack on Jewish volunteer ambulances in London's Golders Green as "total bull**** to keep the false flag flying".
Sarah Wakefield, a 38-year-old newly elected councillor in Manchester, has taken over as the Green candidate. She is currently on maternity leave and has vowed to run a positive campaign despite the anger she has encountered on the doorstep. "I can see that people are very angry," she said. "On all sides of the political spectrum. And I think that's really sad."
Ms Wakefield previously stood to be the party's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February but lost out to Hannah Spencer. She has acknowledged the challenge of making up ground in Makerfield but stressed the importance of offering voters a choice. "It's really important that people have the chance to vote for candidates that they want to in any election," she said.
Some Green campaigners, including former party leader Caroline Lucas, have questioned the decision to field a candidate in Makerfield, fearing it could split the left-wing vote and open the door for Reform UK's candidate Robert Kenyon. Ms Lucas called for a scaled-back campaign, especially after Andy Burnham committed to electoral reform.
Ms Wakefield defended the party's presence, arguing that it provides voters with a hopeful alternative. "What we offer as a Green Party are policies that will make life not only easier for everyone, but hopefully you can enjoy it as well," she said. She highlighted issues such as flooding, green belt preservation, and restoring community spaces as key priorities for her campaign.
