Green candidate in Makerfield by-election wants British farming to be ‘decolonised’ with ‘inclusive spaces’

Sarah Wakefield’s Eating Better charity described having a sense of urgency as an example of ‘white supremacy culture’
A charity run by the Green Partyâs candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election has called for British farming to be “decolonised” through the creation of more “inclusive spaces” within the agricultural sector.
Zack Polanskiâs party unveiled 38-year-old Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the key by-election on Tuesday.
Ms Wakefield, a mother of two, serves as executive director of environmental charity Eating Better.
She had previously sought selection for the Green Party in Gorton and Denton earlier this year before losing out to Hannah Spencer, who later became the partyâs fifth MP.
Eating Better has hosted workshops encouraging participants to adopt âdecolonial decision-makingâ and create âintentionally inclusive spacesâ in British farming.
According to material published on the charityâs website, attendees were also encouraged to âunderstand the unseen advantages they may have had and how people without these characteristics may have faced barriersâ.
Last year, the charity shared a report by American activist Caroline J Sumlin discussing âwhite supremacy cultureâ within farming and outlining ways to challenge âcolonial power and legaciesâ in the food industry.
The report cited âdefensivenessâ, âperfectionismâ and âa sense of urgencyâ as examples of so-called white supremacy culture.
Ms Wakefield, a mother of two, serves as executive director of environmental charity Eating Better
 | GREEN PARTY
These themes appeared under a section labelled âdecolonialityâ, which the report described as action that “de-centres western knowledge and celebrates the knowledge of indigenous, racialised and marginalised communitiesâ.
The report said: âTo decolonise food is to rethink our relationship with it and take a fairer, more connected, holistic approach.
âCivil society can help by centring marginalised communities, building solidarity across cultures and embedding intersectionality.
“This would challenge colonial power and legacies in the food system.â
Eating Better has hosted workshops encouraging participants to adopt ‘decolonial decision-making’
 | EATING BETTER
Ms Wakefield also wrote the foreword to the charityâs âNourishing Justiceâ report, which claimed Britainâs food system is marked by âracial oppression and exclusionâ.
The report said: âIn the UK our food system mirrors and entrenches racial oppression and exclusion where it exists in society.
“Itâs why race has a huge influence on peopleâs experience of the entire food system, from food access, to food sector work, to inclusion in food policy spaces.”
Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones criticised the workshops, arguing the countryside was unfairly being labelled racist.
Ms Wakefield also wrote the foreword to the charityâs âNourishing Justiceâ report
 | EATING BETTER
One Welsh farmer hit out at the workshops, arguing the countryside was unfairly being labelled racist
 | GETTY
The 59-year-old told The Times: âThere will be racism in every walk of life. But you cannot just point the finger at the countryside as racist.
“Because thatâs just another way of pointing and putting more pressure on the industry, and that can be very, very daunting sometimes.”
He urged the charity to “grow up a little bit” and hold more “positive conversations” with British farmers rather than “keep pointing the finger at us”.
Mr Polanskiâs party declined to comment on Ms Wakefieldâs links to the charity.
A party spokesman said: âWe have announced a superb candidate in Sarah Wakefield and will be campaigning to take the fight to Reform and challenge their dangerous politics, including plans to sell off the NHS.
âWe will continue to ask which version of Andy Burnham is going to show up.â
Ms Wakefieldâs candidacy was announced after childrenâs safeguarding specialist Chris Kennedy withdrew from the contest citing “personal and family reasons”.
He stepped aside just hours after being unveiled as the Greensâ initial candidate for the by-election.


