A Green Party Spokesperson said:

“Our candidate Sarah Wakefield has run an outstanding campaign, highlighting that there is an alternative to the failing status quo, with the Greens message of making hope normal again and a fairer, greener country.

Whatever the outcome of this byelection, it’s clear people are desperate for real change

It will be a disaster for the people of Makerfield and the country if Reform’s candidate with his history of misogynist views and Reform’s divisive policies wins out.

Andy Burnham also needs to do much better if he is to fulfil his campaign promise of change. Throughout the campaign, he u-turned and u-turned on crucial issues for the country, pledging to stick to the failed fiscal rules, to make Labour’s settled status policies even crueller, failing to promise electoral reform before the general election and to take water and energy into public ownership. Unless Andy Burnham listens to the cry for change from the doorsteps of Makerfield, he is quickly going to find himself in the same status quo fuelled hole that Keir Starmer has ended up in. The Green Party are standing for a real positive alternative and are alone up to the job of taking on Reform and giving people hope.”

END