The Green Party candidate for the Makerfield by-election withdrew from the race less than 12 hours after being announced. Chris Kennedy was selected on Thursday morning but stepped aside later that day for personal and family reasons. Reports linked the decision to social media posts he had shared questioning police responses to incidents involving attacks on Jewish ambulances and an arson case. The party stated that the posts did not represent its positions, noted that they had been deleted, and confirmed an apology had been issued. Nominations for a replacement will reopen on Friday, with a selection meeting set for Monday. The Greens said they aim to offer voters a genuine alternative focused on taxing the wealthy, addressing living costs, and safeguarding public services, while criticizing Reform for promoting division. Some party members voiced concerns about splitting the progressive vote in a way that could benefit Reform.
