Overview
- Chris Kennedy withdrew from the Green Party candidacy just hours after his selection on Thursday, with the party initially citing personal and family reasons.
- Media reports say Kennedy shared an Instagram video that described arrests over the Golders Green Hatzola ambulance arson as a "false flag" and reshared a post by a user called Hugh Anthony described as a self‑styled ethno‑nationalist.
- The Green Party said the posts do not reflect its views, that Kennedy deleted the material and apologised for the offence caused.
- Nominations for a replacement candidate have been reopened and the Greens plan a selection meeting on Monday to choose who will stand in the Makerfield by‑election.
- The episode comes against a counter‑terror police inquiry into the March Hatzola arson and follows wider criticism of the Greens’ vetting and handling of antisemitism, making the incident politically sensitive in a high‑profile contest contested by Labour and Reform UK.