Greens scale back Makerfield byelection campaign

The Green Party has decided to devote limited resources to the upcoming Makerfield byelection, a strategic move that is expected to bolster the prospects of Labour’s Andy Burnham. Senior figures within the party, including Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley, have advocated for a scaled-back approach, arguing that a divided left-wing vote could allow Reform UK to capture the constituency.

The party intends to redirect its focus and resources toward the Greater Manchester mayoralty byelection, which will be triggered if Burnham is returned to parliament. This decision follows a lively internal debate, with Bartley and other senior leaders urging Zack Polanski, the party’s leader in England and Wales, to withhold a full campaign effort. Bartley stated that if Burnham commits to electoral reform, the Greens should not run a full campaign against him on this "unique occasion" to avoid handing the seat to the far right.

Sarah Wakefield, a 38-year-old charity director and Manchester city councillor, has been announced as the Green Party’s candidate for the 18 June contest. She replaces Chris Kennedy, who withdrew just nine hours after his initial announcement. The Times reported that Kennedy had shared social media posts regarding an attack on Jewish ambulances in north London, describing arrests over the incident as a "false flag" operation.

While Makerfield is located in Greater Manchester, it is demographically distinct from Gorton and Denton, where the Greens previously won a seat by overcoming a large Labour majority. A constituency poll indicated a potential split on the right, with Restore Britain, led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, polling at 7 per cent behind Labour and Reform UK. Party sources have confirmed that the central organisation will not mobilise activists in the same manner as seen in the February byelection, with one source noting there are no plans to "bus people in to Makerfield to door-knock".

The decision has prompted anger among some left-wing members who joined under Polanski’s leadership, which has overseen a near quadrupling of membership. These members argued that the Greens should attempt to defeat Burnham to replace Labour, rather than limiting their campaign. However, the central party has determined that the potential harm of splitting the vote outweighs the benefits of a full contest, particularly given the demographic challenges of the seat.