The Makerfield by-election, scheduled for June 18, has emerged as a politically charged contest, characterized by candidate controversies and strategic deliberations among the participating parties. Key figures in this by-election include Labour's Andy Burnham, Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, and the Green Party's recently announced candidate, Sarah Wakefield.

The Green Party initially faced a significant challenge when its first candidate, Chris Kennedy, withdrew from the race merely hours after his announcement. Kennedy, a registered nurse and children's safeguarding specialist, cited 'personal and family reasons' for his decision. This withdrawal followed revelations regarding social media posts where he had described an attack on Jewish volunteer ambulances in London as 'total bull**** to keep the false flag flying'. The Green Party promptly distanced itself from these views, asserting that such posts did not align with the party's principles. They confirmed that Kennedy had apologized for the offense caused and had since deleted the contentious posts. In response, the Greens appointed Sarah Wakefield as their new representative. Ms. Wakefield, a 38-year-old mother of two, is an active Manchester City Councillor for the Deansgate ward and chairs the children and young people scrutiny committee. Currently on maternity leave from her role as a charity director, her background also includes retail work focused on sustainable food, and she serves as a trustee for a community organization. Expressing her pride in representing the Green Party, Wakefield underscored the democratic imperative of offering voters a choice and articulated the party's vision for creating 'a better life for ourselves and our children'. She referenced the party's recent success in the Gorton and Denton by-election, where they defeated Reform UK, as evidence of their capability to challenge 'backward-looking and divisive politics'.

Internally, the Green Party has been grappling with differing opinions on the level of resources and effort to commit to the Makerfield by-election. Despite their notable triumph in the Gorton and Denton by-election—where they overcame a substantial 13,000-plus Labour majority and relegated Reform UK to third place—senior party figures remain cautious. Prominent Greens, including former MP Caroline Lucas and ex-co-leader Jonathan Bartley, have advocated for a restrained campaign. Their argument is that in a constituency the party is unlikely to win, a split vote on the left could inadvertently bolster Reform UK. They suggested that if Labour's Andy Burnham, who is also pursuing the Greater Manchester mayoralty, commits to electoral reform such as proportional representation, the Greens should refrain from launching a full-scale campaign against him. This approach, they argue, would prioritize broader democratic advancement over immediate party-specific gains. However, this perspective has sparked indignation among some left-wing members who maintain that the Greens should consistently strive to challenge and ultimately replace Labour. Ultimately, the central party opted to allocate only limited resources to Makerfield, with a strategic focus on the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election should Burnham secure a parliamentary seat. The leadership expressed concerns that a comprehensive campaign in Makerfield could result in 'more harm than benefits' and wished to avoid being blamed for 'letting Reform in'.

Adding to the by-election's contentious atmosphere, Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, a plumber and recently elected Wigan councillor, has faced significant scrutiny over a series of past social media posts. Broadcaster Carol Vorderman publicly demanded an apology from Kenyon for what she characterized as 'disgusting comments' and misogynistic remarks. Vorderman branded Kenyon a 'cowardly man' in response to offensive posts that have since been deleted, along with his social media accounts, which she deemed to constitute online abuse. Further investigations uncovered numerous deeply derogatory comments made by Kenyon on a rugby league forum and other platforms prior to his political career. These included assertions that women seek abortions for 'vanity purposes' and to facilitate promiscuity, describing abortion as 'the cowardly act of murdering a defenceless baby'. He also allegedly posted that English women 'don't care' about their appearance, made generalized sexist claims such as women being unable to 'ref, drive or give directions', and explicitly declared 'I'm sexist, sorry but I am'. Furthermore, he allegedly criticized female rugby presenters, suggesting they were 'only there to tick a box' and asserted he would 'rank higher' than a female professional player.

Reform UK has mounted a defense of Kenyon, asserting that his comments were made 'before Cllr Kenyon entered politics' and that he is 'perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions on abortion', which the party views as a matter of conscience. A party spokesperson characterized Kenyon as 'not a polished, professional politician' but rather a 'straight-talking, effective voice for normal working people'. Danny Kruger, a Reform member, acknowledged the posts were 'inappropriate' but contended they were not severe enough to warrant Kenyon's withdrawal. Kruger added that Kenyon was an 'ordinary man from an ordinary place' at the time, expressing outrage at the country's condition. Vorderman dismissed this defense, emphasizing that public comments constitute online abuse irrespective of one's political status. Labour Party figures, including Angela Rayner and party chair Anna Turley, have strongly condemned Kenyon's alleged 'repulsive misogynistic abuse', contrasting it with Andy Burnham's 'terrific track record'. These controversies collectively highlight the turbulent and highly scrutinized nature of the Makerfield by-election, as candidates navigate public expectations and past remarks.