The Green Party is facing pressure from Labour to withdraw its candidate from the Makerfield by-election, but argues it must stand to offer a genuine alternative to right-wing populism.

The Green Party of England and Wales has selected Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election, facing Labour's Andy Burnham, Conservatives and Reform UK, amid internal calls to stand aside to avoid splitting the progressive vote and letting Reform win, though the party has resisted after recent gains including winning 24 of 25 Wigan council seats for Reform and a YouGov poll showing the Greens as the second most popular party.