Substrate
world

Green Party MP Says Party Will Contest Makerfield By-Election

Ellie Chowns stated the Green Party will field a candidate in the Makerfield by-election. Some party members had urged the party to withdraw if the mayor of Greater Manchester backs proportional representation.

IN
1 source·May 25, 3:24 PM(4 days ago)·1m read
Green Party MP Says Party Will Contest Makerfield By-Electionthecanary.co
Audio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.

Ellie Chowns, the Westminster leader of the Green Party, said the party will contest the Makerfield by-election. She described participation as "really important" even after some senior members called for the party to step aside. Chowns said she would not have signed a letter circulated by Green councillors, activists and former party leaders.

Post via X — linked by one of this story's sources.

The letter stated the party should withdraw if the mayor of Greater Manchester commits to backing proportional representation for the next Labour general-election manifesto.

Chowns indicated the party would not mount an intensive campaign in the constituency. She noted different levels of effort are possible, ranging from a full campaign to simply placing a candidate on the ballot. She contrasted the situation with the party's recent win in Gorton and Denton, where it had run a stronger effort. Makerfield, she said, presented different circumstances.

Kennedy was announced as the Green candidate on Thursday but withdrew nine hours later for personal and family reasons. " A Green Party spokesperson said the posts do not reflect the party's views. The spokesperson added that Kennedy had deleted the posts and apologised for any offence caused.

Key Facts

Ellie Chowns statement
Party will contest Makerfield by-election
Letter from party members
Called for withdrawal if mayor backs proportional representation
Candidate change
Chris Kennedy withdrew hours after being named

Story Timeline

3 events
  1. Thursday

    Chris Kennedy was announced as the Green candidate for Makerfield.

    1 source@Independent
  2. Thursday

    Kennedy withdrew nine hours later citing personal and family reasons.

    1 source@Independent
  3. Recent days

    Green councillors and former leaders circulated a letter urging the party to step aside under certain conditions.

    1 source@Independent

Potential Impact

  1. 01

    Green Party presence on the ballot may split votes among non-Reform candidates.

  2. 02

    Internal party debate over campaign intensity could affect resource allocation.

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced1
Confidence score65%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count226 words
PublishedMay 25, 2026, 3:24 PM
Bias signals removed1 across 1 outlet
Signal Breakdown
Loaded 1

Related Stories

WHO Chief Visits DRC as Ebola Death Rate Reaches 30-50%The Guardian
world1 hr ago

WHO Chief Visits DRC as Ebola Death Rate Reaches 30-50%

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support containment of a new Ebola outbreak. The agency revised the death rate to 30-50% based on confirmed cases and recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected d…

SK
The Guardian
2 sources
Greek National Charged in UK With Aiding Iran-Linked Intelligence Servicewesternjournal.com
world1 hr ago

Greek National Charged in UK With Aiding Iran-Linked Intelligence Service

A 46-year-old Greek man living in Germany was charged under the UK National Security Act with assisting an intelligence service believed to be Iran by targeting a journalist at Iran International.

Reuters
BBC News
2 sources
Bilt Rewards reports $1 billion revenue target for 2026physicianonfire.com
world1 hr agoDeveloping

Bilt Rewards reports $1 billion revenue target for 2026

Bilt Rewards CEO Ankur Jain said the company's flagship credit card accounts for less than 11 percent of revenue. The firm now processes more than $100 billion in annual housing spend across one in four U.S. apartment buildings.

FO
1 source