MAKERFIELD Greens have chosen a new candidate for the critical by-election next month, amid pressure within the party to soft-peddle its campaign against Labour’s Andy Burnham.

Charity director and Manchester councillor Sarah Wakefield is the new Green standard-bearer, the party announced today.  

She replaces Chris Kennedy, who stood down after the revelation of conspiracist social media posts.

Some prominent Greens are arguing against a full-on campaign in Makerfield, which the party cannot win, but where it could damage Mr Burnham’s chances in the face of a strong campaign by the far-right Reform.

Former leader Jonathan Bartley, campaigner Peter Tatchell and leading environmentalist Jonathan Porritt were among figures signing an open statement arguing that “on this unique occasion we don’t think Greens should run a full campaign against” Mr Burnham if he commits to proportional representation, which the Manchester mayor has long championed.

Ms Wakefield said: “It is vital in a democracy that voters are given a choice of who they want to vote for. Together we can bring back the hope that politics can create a better life for ourselves and our children.”

Reform has its own problems in the constituency.  Multi-billionaire Elon Musk has publicly backed the even-further right Restore party, led by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe, in the poll, risking a split in the vote.

And TV mathematician Carol Vorderman has demanded a public apology from Reform candidate Robert Kenyon for endorsing gross sexual remarks about her on social media, on a since-deleted account.

“I want an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online,” Ms Vorderman told the Mirror.