Green Party Must Run Everywhere to Counter Reform UK, Not Step Aside for Labour

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ben-smoke. "Why the Green party must run in every seat – including Makerfield – and ignore Labour demands to stand aside | Ben Smoke | The Guardian." May 28, 2026. www.theguardian.com

The Gist

The author argues that Green party candidates should run everywhere, even if it might help Reform UK win some seats. He believes only the Greens offer real change, while Labour's centrist approach actually helps create the conditions that make far-right parties popular.

Conclusion

The Green party must run candidates in every seat, including Makerfield, and ignore Labour demands to stand aside

Premises

1. The Green party has transformed from an electoral pressure group to a genuine political force with surging support
2. Labour is partly responsible for Reform UK's rise by leaving voters disenfranchised and accepting anti-immigration narratives
3. Only the Greens can offer a genuine alternative to counter rightwing populism, not Labour's status quo politics
4. Labour treats the Greens as an illegitimate extension rather than an independent party with earned political standing
5. Standing aside would give Reform UK ammunition to position themselves as outsiders representing the people
6. Progressive pressure from Green candidates is necessary to prevent Labour politicians like Burnham from backtracking on progressive positions
7. Supporting the status quo won't beat rightwing populism - only offering genuine alternatives will win the fight

Assumptions

• Electoral competition from the left strengthens rather than weakens progressive politics overall
• Reform UK's appeal stems from genuine voter dissatisfaction rather than just populist manipulation
• The Green party represents a meaningfully different political alternative from Labour
• Tactical voting and electoral pacts are less effective than authentic political competition
• Labour's current approach is fundamentally inadequate to address the conditions that fuel far-right support

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