@[email protected] has movedMay 19

Q. what should the Green Party of England & Wales do in the Makerfeld by-election?

Should they reign back to give Andy Burnham a better chance but demand action of electoral reform (perhaps)?

Should they fight the seat on the grounds they could win... and any 'splitting' of the Left vote is Labour's problem not their's?

There are no easy answers here, but the vey fact this *is* an issue, actually reflects the rising success of the GPEW!

#Makerfield #Greens #politics

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/18/greens-andy-burnham-makerfield-byelection-reform

Greens split over how hard to challenge Burnham in Makerfield byelection

Some in party fear all-out campaign could boost Reform UK chances

The Guardian
Show threadAdam DallianceMay 19

@ChrisMayLA6 Andy Burnham is not good. He can't promise PR, labour even under him will never back down in even one seat. This is the biggest opportunity to put green policy in front of the assembled world media and local voters in this century.

The last thing we should do is back down and shut up when the most important by election in decades is happening.

Burnham is not good. We should fight and present green policy to this media opportunity and hopefully win.

Show threadrooftopjaxx
@pre @ChrisMayLA6 Something that'd be interesting to us new £6 entryists would be to understand how the thinkings of the higher-ups are perceived and discussed by the base.
Maybe we start to get a little more insight when the candidates for the bye-elections in Dalston and Hackney Central are rannounced, as well the the candidate for Makerfield ¿this Wednesday?
#deckchairs
May 19 at 8:19amWeb
Show threadAdam DallianceMay 19

@rooftopjaxx @ChrisMayLA6 the national 'higher-ups' don't decide the local candidates. The local party does.

The national party has funding they may or may not allocate to the campaign.

When I say we should fight its not really proscriptive. Depends if the local party actually has a good candidate really, and I don't know that. The locals will know who is best from their number.

Assuming they have a Hannah Spencer equivalent I look forward to hearing from them.

Show threadrooftopjaxxMay 19
@pre
<Hulk fistpump emoji>
@ChrisMayLA6
Show threadrooftopjaxxMay 19

@pre @ChrisMayLA6
"Makerfield is also in Greater Manchester, but very different to Gorton and Denton, and seemingly much less favourable to the Greens, who finished fifth in the constituency in the 2024 general election." https://archive.ph/IvHYa

Also fifth to third (in their May 2026 local election) is an interesting trajectory, as the Bastani's of the world might say, "It'll go higher!"

Show threadAdam DallianceMay 19

@rooftopjaxx Yeah, the odds of winning are are much worse than Gorton&Denton. G&D would have probably gone to Burnham if they'd let him stand even.

But the assembled world media will be pointing their spotlight on that contest and to step back and shut up during that would be very costly.

A Burnham win, with his keeping the Reeves spending limits and refusing to do PR, just isn't any better than Milliband leading Labour.

There's nothing to win by stepping down. Burnham is just as shit as the rest.

Show threadAdam DallianceMay 19
@rooftopjaxx If nothing else, we can raise the profile of a local candidate in the national media and give that candidate a better chance in local election or future seats or general media appearances.
Show threadrooftopjaxxMay 19
@pre That word appeasement comes to mind. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.