The Green Party has this evening announced that Chris Kennedy has been elected as its candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election. Chris, a registered nurse and children’s safeguarding specialist, is a committed local campaigner. Chris will champion the priorities of local communities – tackling the rising cost of living and protecting local green spaces.  

Chris Kennedy was elected through a ballot of local members after a hustings.   

Chris said:  

“I am proud to have been selected to stand as the Green Party candidate for Makerfield at such an important time for our community. We want to defend our area against the politics of hate and division and bring people together around a positive vision for the future. At the same time, we can’t let this election be dominated by a Westminster psychodrama. It must be about protecting what makes Makerfield special. People here are feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, and they deserve real support. Greens will fight for warmer homes, lower bills, and a fairer economy. And we will always stand up for our NHS, properly funded, publicly owned, and there for everyone when they need it.”    

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said:    

Chris will be a fantastic candidate and representative for Makerfield. This election is about who is making the case for lower bills, warmer and more affordable homes and a greener and fairer economy. In a democracy, people must have the choice to vote for the candidate of their choice. The greatest threat in this by-election is the Reform Party, which, while presenting itself as a change to the status quo, is just more of the same and worse. It is in hock to corporate interests and seeks to divide our communities rather than uniting them. We have shown we can take votes from Reform in a way Labour just can’t. We know there are many voters fed up with the status quo who will only choose between Reform and Greens.   

“We will also use the byelection to press Andy Burnham on what kind of MP and Prime Minister he would be, given his mixed track record, and interviews this week suggesting he isn’t committed to fair voting, public ownership and a genuinely new economic settlement.  We’d like to know which version of Andy Burnham is going to show up.”  

Responding to the vote at Brent Council’s AGM that has seen the Labour administration enter into a deal with Conservatives to stay in power, Green Group Leader, Mary Mitchell, said: 

“Brent residents voted clearly for change on May 7th. After losing twenty-four seats and control of the Council, Labour had a choice: embrace a new era of collaboration and accountability, or cling to the status quo. Instead, they’ve chosen to cling to power through a deal with the Conservatives.

It didn’t have to be like this. The Green Party was ready to come to the table, do the hard work of negotiation and collaboration, and build a formal arrangement that included the need for new leadership. Instead, Labour has chosen to ignore the progressive values of its supporters and have prioritised protecting party power.

This stitch-up delivers no meaningful reform for residents. It is old-party politics at its worst, and deeply disappointing for everyone who voted for change. We remain ready to work with anyone committed to transparency, collaboration and putting Brent residents before party interests.”