Greens pick Wakefield for Makerfield by-election
The Green Party has named Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election, setting up a four-way race with Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Wakefield brings a background in environmental law and grassroots campaigning to the contest.
The Green Party has selected Sarah Wakefield, a 42-year-old solicitor specialising in environmental law, as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election on October 10, 2024. Wakefield, who has led multiple high-profile campaigns against local incineration plans, will face Labour’s James Colley, Conservative councillor Emma Hart and Liberal Democrat newcomer Priya Mehta in what polling suggests will be the tightest by-election in the constituency in a decade.
Makerfield, a traditionally Labour-held seat in Greater Manchester, has seen its political landscape shift in recent years amid growing environmental concerns and anti-austerity sentiment. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Lisa Nandy, who stepped down last month to take a role with a major UK think tank. Wakefield’s selection comes after a three-month internal selection process that drew over 500 applicants, a record for a Green Party by-election nomination.
Key Points
- ✅ Sarah Wakefield, 42, is the Green Party candidate for the October 10 Makerfield by-election
- ⚡ Wakefield is a solicitor specialising in environmental law with a history of campaigning against incineration projects
- 💡 The by-election follows the resignation of Labour’s Lisa Nandy to join a think tank
Wakefield’s campaign launch in Wigan Town Centre on Friday drew an unexpected crowd of over 200 supporters, including local activists and national Green Party figures. “This isn’t just about replacing one MP,” Wakefield told the gathered crowd. “It’s about sending a message that Makerfield wants real action on climate change, affordable housing and workers’ rights.” The Green Party has already pledged to make climate policy the cornerstone of its campaign, proposing a £500 million local green jobs fund if elected.
| Party | Candidate | Key Policy Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Sarah Wakefield | £500m green jobs fund, incineration plant halt |
| Labour | James Colley | Public ownership of utilities, NHS funding boost |
| Conservative | Emma Hart | Tax cuts, local business support, strict immigration controls |
| Lib Dem | Priya Mehta | EU re-entry push, digital infrastructure investment |
Local polling by the Wigan Observer, conducted between September 1-5, shows Wakefield polling at 18%, ahead of the Lib Dems on 14% but trailing Labour’s Colley on 42% and the Conservatives’ Hart on 26%. The same poll indicates 68% of voters believe climate change should be the top priority for the next MP, a figure that rises to 76% among 18-34 year olds. Wakefield’s campaign team has dismissed the polling as “early and unreliable,” pointing to the party’s 20% vote share in the last general election as evidence of growing Green support in the region.
💡 Pro Tip
By-elections often hinge on turnout in key wards. Wakefield’s team should focus on mobilising younger voters in Wigan West and Abram, where Green support has historically been strongest but remains under 15% of the electorate.
The Conservatives have framed the by-election as a referendum on Labour’s economic record, while Labour has sought to distance itself from Nandy’s departure by emphasising continuity. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are banking on their pro-EU stance to peel off disaffected Remain voters. Wakefield, however, has ruled out any pre-election pacts, insisting the Greens will run an independent campaign focused on “radical honesty about the challenges ahead.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 18% — Green candidate Sarah Wakefield’s current polling in Makerfield
- 68% — Share of voters who say climate change should be the top priority for the next MP
- 500 — Number of applicants who vied for the Green Party’s Makerfield nomination
With early voting already underway in some care homes and postal ballots dispatched, campaigning enters its final phase. The Green Party’s decision to field Wakefield signals its intent to capitalise on the by-election as a platform for its national climate agenda, while Labour and the Conservatives scramble to hold their ground in a constituency that has not elected a non-Labour MP since 1935.