What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Green Party has pulled out of standing in a crucial general election seat - to help Labour beat the Tories.

The move in Ealing Central and Acton, West London, is the first tactical withdrawal of its kind in the country for the 2017 general election.

Labour MP Rupa Huq beat the Conservatives by just 274 votes in 2015, but no other party managed more than 7% of the vote.

That prompted the local Green party, which previously won 1,841 votes, to withdraw this time to give Ms Huq more of a chance.

Green Party national leaders want a "progressive alliance" that could stop the Tories taking overall power on June 8, even if they win the most seats.

Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out a formal coalition in Westminster, but did not block informal arrangements like that in West London.

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has also hinted at withdrawing from some seats to allow "good Brexiteers" a better run at victory.

Ealing Central and Acton - 2015 general election result

Ealing's local Green members voted on Thursday not to field a candidate after Ms Huq promised to campaign for voting reform and the environment.

The Labour MP, whose sister is former Blue Peter presenter Konnie and who was famously "manhandled" by a Tory aide on a walkabout with Boris Johnson, will also campaign against Hard Brexit and a Heathrow third runway.

She told the Mirror: "The local Green Party knows that I am an MP who is a resolute Remainer and that, if necessary, I will continue to fight for the UK to stay in the EU and vote accordingly.

"In these perilous times it is vital that we work together to oppose this reckless surge towards Brexit .

"We must adopt a pragmatic approach to avert the existential threat that an invigorated Conservative government would pose to this country.

"The NHS, our invaluable public services and our environmental protections are in crisis. Unfortunately the local Liberal Democrats are prioritising party politics over fighting the Tories.

(Image: Ealing Gazette)

Ms Huq added: "I have a majority of 274 and there is a real risk the split of the progressive vote will leave the people of Ealing and Acton with a hard-Brexiteer MP - something they categorically did not vote for on the 23rd of June.

"I have always got on well with my local Greens. We did a number of hustings meetings together in 2015 and have shared common ground on key areas.

"That is why I welcome the Green Party offer of support to take the fight to the Tories. We can only hope in time that the Liberal Democrats see sense and do the same."

poll loading Should left-wing parties have 'progressive alliances' to beat the Tories? 0+ VOTES SO FAR NO YES, including in Westminster YES, but only at a local level

General election 2017 countdown Polls will open in 0 Days 0 Hours 0 minutes 0 Seconds

A Green Party spokesman said any decision is up to local members.

A similar withdrawal could also soon happen in Plymouth Davenport, where the Tories have a majority of 526.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said: " Our call for a meeting between party leaders isn’t about the Greens standing aside – it’s about giving people in this country the best possible chance of defeating the Conservatives and bringing in a truly democratic voting system.

“For the sake of our NHS, our welfare state and our environment we need progressive party leaders to ditch partisan politics just for a moment and think about how we can best stop the Tories from wrecking our country for generations to come."