Ex-Makerfield Green Party candidate apologises over 'false flag' post

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. The BBC understands the posts were a factor in Kennedy's withdrawal. 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 the posts shared by 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". A false flag is a political or military action carried out with the intention of blaming an opponent for it. After the Green's announced his withdrawal on Thursday,