Green Party Candidate Apologises for Controversial Social Media Posts
The Green Party has confirmed that its former candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Chris Kennedy, has issued an apology after sharing social media posts that described an attack on ambulances operated by a Jewish charity as a "false flag" incident.
Chris Kennedy was announced as the Green Party's candidate on Thursday but withdrew his candidacy just hours later. The party attributed his withdrawal to "personal and family reasons."
Following this, The Times newspaper reported that it had contacted Kennedy regarding social media posts he had shared, which were connected to the arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the charity Hatzola in Golders Green, north London.
A spokesperson for the Green Party stated:
"We have spoken to Chris about these posts, and he has now deleted them. He apologises for the offence caused."
The spokesperson also emphasised that the posts "don't reflect the views of The Green Party."
According to The Times, one of the posts shared by Mr Kennedy was an Instagram video that described the arrests of two men in relation to the Golders Green incident as an attempt to "keep the false flag flying."
For context, a false flag refers to a political or military operation conducted with the intention of blaming another party or opponent for the act.
Despite the controversy surrounding the social media posts, the Green Party maintains that Kennedy's decision to withdraw as their candidate in Makerfield was due to personal and family considerations.
It was reported on Thursday that Kennedy, who is a registered nurse and children's safeguarding specialist, wished to prioritise his family’s caregiving responsibilities.
Context of the By-Election
The by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency is scheduled for 18 June and was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons.
Simons announced his resignation to provide an opportunity for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to contest the seat and, if successful, return to Westminster as a Member of Parliament.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski previously praised Kennedy, describing him as a "fantastic candidate". Polanski highlighted that the by-election campaign focuses on issues such as "who is making the case for lower bills, warmer and more affordable homes, and a greener and fairer economy."
The Green Party plans to decide on a replacement candidate by Monday.
Other Candidates Announced
So far, five other political parties have announced their candidates for the Makerfield by-election.
