YOUR Party has announced it will not put forward a candidate for the Gorton & Denton by-election.

“The single greatest threat to this country right now is a far-right Reform government,” a spokesperson said.

They added the party will “actively mobilise against the far-right, even as we continue to build a mass party that can elect socialist and anti-war candidates across the country.” Because the new left party has no branches yet and is undergoing elections for its first executive, “we do not believe that a Your Party candidacy would serve our collective goals in this by-election.

The Workers Party of Britain has also announced the “difficult” decision not to contest the by-election, saying “Labour and Reform must lose.” Many view the Greens as favourites to beat the far right in the formerly Labour seat.

Your Party did not endorse a specific candidate. Its Grassroots Left slate, made up of allies of Zarah Sultana standing for the executive, issued a statement critical of the decision not to stand and said they would not lend “unconditional” support to the Greens as a “pro-capitalist, pro-Nato party.” However, Ms Sultana put out a statement offering her personal “critical support” to the Green candidate Hannah Spencer.

Labour bosses blocked Sir Keir Starmer’s potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from standing last month.