Chris Kennedy was announced as the Green Party’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election on Thursday morning. By Thursday evening, he was gone.

The rapid exit followed reports that Kennedy had shared social media content describing an arson attack on ambulances operated by Hatzola, a Jewish emergency medical service, as a "false flag." The term refers to a deceptive operation designed to frame an opponent for a crime they did not commit.

The Green Party initially cited "personal and family reasons" for Kennedy’s departure, a line they have maintained even after the nature of the social media posts came to light. A party spokesperson confirmed that they had spoken with Kennedy, who has since deleted the posts and issued an apology for the offense caused. The party emphasized that the content "doesn't reflect the views of The Green Party."

The Context of the Controversy

The posts in question reportedly included an Instagram video suggesting that the arrests of two men in connection with the Golders Green ambulance attack were part of a coordinated effort to "keep the false flag flying." The incident, which occurred in north London, involved the deliberate destruction of four ambulances belonging to the volunteer charity.

Kennedy, a registered nurse and children’s safeguarding specialist, had been described by Green Party leader Zack Polanski as a "fantastic candidate" just hours before the controversy erupted. The party’s platform for the Makerfield by-election had been focused on local economic issues, including housing affordability and energy bills.

The Impact on the Makerfield Race

The by-election, scheduled for June 18, was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons. Simons stepped down specifically to clear a path for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Westminster. The sudden vacancy in the Green candidacy leaves the party scrambling to reorganize its local campaign strategy.

While the Greens have officially attributed the withdrawal to Kennedy’s desire to focus on family care responsibilities, the timing of the announcement—coinciding with inquiries from The Times—has drawn significant scrutiny. The party is now tasked with finding a replacement candidate to compete against a field that includes Burnham, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, and Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley.

Key Takeaways

  • Chris Kennedy withdrew as the Green Party candidate for Makerfield hours after his candidacy was announced, following reports of his social media activity.
  • The posts shared by Kennedy characterized an arson attack on a Jewish charity’s ambulances as a "false flag," a claim the Green Party has distanced itself from.
  • The Green Party is expected to announce a replacement candidate on Monday, as the June 18 by-election approaches.

What Happens Next

The Green Party has set a deadline of Monday to finalize a replacement candidate for the Makerfield seat. This decision will determine whether the party can regain momentum in a contest currently dominated by the high-profile candidacy of Andy Burnham. For the party leadership, the immediate challenge is to pivot back to their core policy platform before the June 18 vote, while managing the fallout from a vetting process that failed to flag the candidate's online history before his public introduction.