Green party candidate for Makerfield byelection quits after just nine hours

A Green Party candidate for the Makerfield byelection withdrew from the ballot less than twelve hours after being announced. Chris Kennedy was selected to run, but about nine hours later the party said he had dropped out for personal and family reasons. Reports linked the withdrawal to social media posts Kennedy shared about an attack involving Jewish ambulances in north London, including claims that arrests were “total bullshit” and references to a “false flag.” The party stated the posts did not reflect Green Party views, said Kennedy deleted them, and he apologized for the offence caused. The party reopened nominations to provide voters with a real choice and emphasized campaigning against Reform while focusing on making the super-rich pay their fair share.

"Chris Kennedy was announced to be running in the seat for the Greens on Thursday morning, but nine hours later the party said he had dropped out, citing personal and family reasons. The Times reported it had approached Kennedy about a series of social media posts he had shared about an attack on Jewish ambulances in north London in April. An Instagram video shared by Kennedy described the arrests of two men over the incident as total bullshit to keep the false flag flying, the paper reported."

"A Green party spokesperson said: These posts don't reflect the views of the Green party. We have spoken to Chris about these posts, and he has now deleted them. He apologises for the offence caused. Kennedy was chosen by local party members. According to the Times, the frontrunner had been Hayley Pierce, a portrait artist, but her prospects seemed to have been damaged by social media posts which the newspaper published."

"Later on Thursday, the Green party said Kennedy, a nurse and children's safeguarding specialist, had withdrawn for family reasons. We wish Chris the best and understand that family has to come first, the Greens said. As a party, we are reopening nominations now because we believe people in Makerfield deserve a real choice at this byelection, and the Green party will be standing to offer exactly that."

"Across the country, more and more voters are turning away from the old parties and looking for politicians who will genuinely stand up for their communities. We will also be redoubling our efforts on campaigning to expose the risk of Reform, a party who seeks to divide our communities. This election has to be about how to make the super-rich pay their fair"

Read at www.theguardian.com