The Green Party of England and Wales said it will contest the upcoming by-election in the Makerfield constituency [1].
This move signals a strategic shift for the party as it seeks to expand its influence within Greater Manchester. By fielding a candidate and campaigning actively, the Greens aim to challenge the established political order in a region where they have recently seen success.
The party said it is building on momentum from a win in another Greater Manchester seat in February 2026 [1]. This previous victory provides a blueprint for the current campaign as the party attempts to mobilize voters in Makerfield.
Beyond the immediate goal of winning the seat, the Greens intend to use the contest to target Andy Burnham. The party said it wants to use the by-election to pressure Burnham on the issue of electoral reform [1], [2].
The decision to run a full campaign is a departure from previous strategies where the party may have played a smaller role in similar contests. The party said it has learned from its recent experiences and is now prepared to invest more resources into the Makerfield race [1].
The by-election is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks [1]. The outcome will be closely watched as a measure of the Green Party's growth in the North of England and its ability to disrupt traditional party strongholds.
“The Green Party of England and Wales said it will contest the upcoming by-election in the Makerfield constituency.”
The Green Party's decision to aggressively contest Makerfield indicates a transition from a niche protest party to a competitive regional force in Greater Manchester. By linking their campaign to electoral reform and directly challenging a high-profile figure like Andy Burnham, the Greens are attempting to shift the political discourse toward systemic change while capitalizing on recent electoral momentum.
