Former Green Party by-election candidate apologises for sharing 'false flag' post

Chris Kennedy was announced as the Green Party candidate for the Makerfield by-election, then withdrew hours later citing personal and family reasons. Reports linked his social media posts to an arson attack on four ambulances operated by the Jewish charity Hatzola in Golders Green, north London. The Green Party said it spoke with Kennedy, who deleted the posts and apologised for the offence caused. The party stated the posts did not reflect its views. One reported post described arrests over the incident as trying to “keep the false flag flying,” with a false flag defined as an action intended to blame an opponent. The by-election was triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons’s resignation, allowing Andy Burnham to contest the seat.

"The Green Party said its former Makerfield by-election candidate has apologised for sharing social media posts which described an attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity as a “false flag”. Chris Kennedy was announced as the party's candidate on Thursday but withdrew hours later, with the Greens citing “personal and family reasons”. The Times newspaper later reported it had approached Kennedy about social media posts he shared that were linked to the arson attack on four ambulances operated by the charity Hatzola in Golders Green, north London."

"A Green Party spokesperson said: “We have spoken to Chris about these posts, and he has now deleted them. He apologises for the offence caused.” They also said the posts “don't reflect the views of The Green Party”. According to The Times, one of posts shared by Mr Kennedy was an Instagram video which described the arrests of two men over the Golders Green incident as trying to “keep the false flag flying”."

"The Green Party still insists Kennedy's withdrawal as their candidate in Makerfield is due to personal and family reasons. It was understood on Thursday that Kennedy, a registered nurse and children's safeguarding specialist, wanted to focus on the caring responsibilities of his family. The by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency on 18 June was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons."

Read at www.bbc.com