GREEN Party leader Clare Bailey has said the general election is about "returning as many pro-Remain MPs as possible" as she announced they will not stand in all four Belfast constituencies.
The Greens had already withdrawn from South Belfast earlier this week to endorse SDLP candidate Claire Hanna's bid to unseat the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly.
It is the latest in a series of electoral manoeuvres by pro-Remain parties as they seek to maximise their efforts to unseat DUP Brexiteers in the December 12 poll.
Ms Bailey yesterday confirmed her party would also not field candidates in North, East and West Belfast.
West Belfast is considered a safe Sinn Féin seat, but the other two are likely to be tightly fought contests.
Sinn Féin's John Finucane is hoping to topple DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds in North Belfast, while Alliance leader Naomi Long is aiming to unseat the DUP's Gavin Robinson in East Belfast.
Ms Bailey said she was setting aside party interests to back pro-Remain counterparts.
"This election is all about returning as many pro-Remain MPs as possible," she said.
"These are extraordinary times and require an extraordinary response.
"The Green Party NI achieved our best ever vote across the city of Belfast in the local government election earlier this year. However, I'm prepared to put the need to have pro-Remain MPs returned ahead of party interest.
"The realities of the first-past-the-post system and the threat posed to our way of life by Brexit means that we must do everything possible to maximise the pro-Remain vote. People want us to act to maximise the pro-Remain voice and that's what we're doing right across Belfast."
The Green Party is expected to make a decision by the weekend on whether to stand in North Down, where Remainer and independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon will not seek re-election.
