Greens suggest they will properly contest byelection in blow for Burnham

Statement follows speculation party would not field candidate in Makerfield or barely fight seat

• UK politics live – latest updates

The Greens are going to campaign for the upcoming Makerfield byelection, complicating Andy Burnham’s potential route back to parliament against what is expected to be a strong Reform UK challenge.

A statement from the Greens said candidate selection was in process, and that the party had learned from its win in another Greater Manchester seat in February, when they overcame a 13,000 Labour majority in Gorton and Denton.