STORY
The Green Party has announced Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election, following the withdrawal of its previous candidate, Chris Kennedy. Wakefield is a Manchester City councillor representing Deansgate and will contest the seat in what has become a closely watched contest involving Labour’s Andy Burnham and Reform UK.
Wakefield said she was proud to represent the party and argued that voters should be given a genuine choice. She said the Greens wanted to “bring back the hope that politics can create a better life” and pointed to the party’s recent success in Gorton and Denton, where it defeated Reform, as evidence that it could challenge what she described as divisive politics.
The selection comes after Kennedy withdrew from the contest, with the party saying he had stood down for personal and family reasons. The by-election has also prompted internal debate within the Greens over how hard the party should campaign, with some senior figures concerned about the risk of splitting the anti-Reform vote, while others argue that voters should have the chance to back a Green candidate.