The Green Party has decided to stand a candidate in the upcoming Richmond Park by-election but remain open to discussions with the Liberal Democrats about the possibility of standing aside.

At today’s meeting of the Richmond and Kingston Green parties and senior national Greens, the issue of whether to stand aside in order to give the Liberal Democrats a better chance of winning the seat was discussed.

According to a local source with knowledge of the meeting though, the position decided is that: “We are open to discussions however without Labour [standing aside] it [the Greens standing aside] probably won’t happen.”

While three Labour MPs (Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy and Jonathan Reynolds) called today for Labour to consider standing aside, political journalists have been briefed that Labour will definitely be standing a candidate.

Bright Green understands that the Liberal Democrats have not yet approached the local Green party about a deal.

The bookmakers view the seat as a straight fight between the Liberal Democrats and ex-Tory MP Zac Goldsmith. Ladbrokes has the Liberal Democrats as evens to win, with Goldsmith slightly ahead at 8/11.

The Greens, Labour and UKIP are currently between 100/1 and 200/1 to win the seat. The Conservative Party is not standing a candidate against Goldsmith.

The byelection has been called because Goldsmith has resigned due to his opposition to Heathrow’s third runway, which was approved yesterday.