Green party candidate for Makerfield byelection withdraws after nine hours

Party apologises for posts shared by Chris Kennedy about Jewish ambulance attacks and says he has dropped out for personal reasons

The Green party’s candidate for the Makerfield byelection has withdrawn from the ballot within hours of being announced.

Chris Kennedy was announced to be running in the seat for the Greens on Thursday morning, but nine hours later the party said he had dropped out, citing “personal and family reasons”.