Green Party decides not to field Hartlepool General Election candidate

Members of the “Poolie Greens” cited concern about a UKIP victory in Hartlepool as behind the decision and are urging people to vote Labour.

Michael Holt, 28, who was the party’s candidate for the 2015 General Election, said: “At the very start of the campaign, our members met to discuss standing a candidate in Hartlepool. There was a worry that UKIP would capitalise on their 2015 performance and gain their first MP here.

“A few weeks later and the recent local elections have shown that UKIP are probably a spent force politically. We hope that by not standing in one of their target seats we can help put the final nail in the coffin.”

The Hartlepool Green Party is urging its supporters to vote for the Labour candidate Mike Hill.

Mr Holt said: “We have been impressed by their reported policy program.

“It is very close to the manifesto that we campaigned on in Hartlepool in 2015: taking rail, energy & health back into public control; £10 minimum wage and scrapping tuition fees.

“If Corbyn’s party were to back PR this would be ultimate proof that they want to give back control to the people. There is still time before the final draft.”

Also satanding in Hartlepool are UKIP candidate is Phillip Broughton, Carl Jackson for the Conservatives and Andy Hagon for th Lib Dems.