7 May 2021

• Party has already won 71 seats including 56 new seats
• Gained representation on nine new councils for the first time with most of the results still to come

The Green Party is on course to celebrate another set of record results with more Green councillors on more councils across the country than ever before, extending the party’s record gains two years ago.

The Greens have already won a total of 71 seats, including 56 new seats, and gained representation on nine new councils for the first time in this year’s local elections so far [1].

The party has so far seen their first councillors elected to seats such as Stockport, Hastings and Derbyshire County Council, while also making significant gains in more established areas such as Sheffield, which has now been taken in to no overall control.

Elsewhere, the party has won its first seat on Manchester City Council for the first time since 2004, gained six new seats on Suffolk County Council, taking the total to nine, and a further three seats so far in Burnley, taking the total to five. [2]

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: “It has already become clear that we are in a new era and there are no no-go areas for Green politics anymore.

“Whether that’s in Burnley or Brighton and Hove, people are turning to the Greens as they know we will not take their vote for granted.

“It is clear the world has changed and people know that a new Green politics is what is needed. It is the Greens that are offering hope and the promise of a better future as we begin to recover from this terrible pandemic.

“Our members, supporters and councillors are bringing change from the bottom to create a Green recovery for all.

“These results show clearly that people want an alternative to the broken and fragmenting two party system which has dominated for so long and caused so much mistrust and damage.

“Greens are now representing communities up and down the country and people can see the impact they make.”

ENDS

Notes

1

The new councils on which Greens are represented:

Stockport

Northumberland County Council

Hastings

Derbyshire County Council

East Sussex County Council

County Durham Unitary

Halton Borough Council

Northamptonshire North Unitary

2

Full results are available here: https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/local-election-results-2021/?utm_source=vote&utm_medium=nav&utm_campaign=results

Tweet

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

7 May 2021

• Labour council leader unseated by Green candidate
• Party gains five seats across the city

The Green Party has taken Sheffield City Council to no overall control after gaining a further five seats, meaning Labour has lost its majority in the city.

The Greens increased their number of seats on the council from eight to 13. This means they now have the potential to enter negotiations with Labour and the Liberal Democrats on running the council.

Green Party councillor Douglas Johnson said:

“It is hugely significant that the council has moved to no overall control so the three parties will be forced to work together. This also makes Sheffield the largest city where Greens hold a balance of power. 

“Sheffield’s 13 Green councillors are taking their rightful position as the third largest party on Sheffield City Council.  

“We will continue to push the agenda on the climate emergency, open democracy and community-led action.  We now look forward to working alongside the Labour and LibDem groups and will make our decisions in the next few days in the best interests of the people of Sheffield.”

Johnson also said:

“I am particularly delighted to welcome Christine Gilligan-Kubo as a new councillor who has unseated the Labour Leader of the Council.  That in itself will help a fresh start as the three parties have to work together.  Christine will be a great asset, along with the five new faces on the councillor group.”

The results in Sheffield come as Greens are making gains across the country.

The Greens have won a total of 44 seats overall, including 31 gains, and gained representation on six new councils in this year’s local elections so far.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: 

“The historic gains that the Greens have made in Sheffield, are good news for the council and good news for everyone who lives here. It means an even stronger Green voice at the time when local people need it most, whether that is to improve the lives of the people in the city now or securing their future..

“It is clear the world has changed. It is the Greens that are offering hope and a plan for a green recovery that benefits everyone.”

ENDS

Tweet

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

7 May 2021

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley has welcomed the early set of results which show Green gains across the country.

As results only start to come through, the Greens have already seen a total of 22 councillors elected, 17 of which are gains from the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The party has also been elected to four new councils for the first time: Northumberland, Stockport, Hastings and Derbyshire.

Bartley said:

“There is still a long way to go, but I’m delighted to see Greens winning across the country, including gaining our first seats in Stockport, Northumberland, Hastings and Derbyshire. It’s clear that there are no no-go areas for Greens anymore.

“We are winning seats in areas that have traditionally been thought of as Labour and Conservative. Green politics is on the rise and it is only the Green Party that is offering a clear vision of a better future, with thousands of Green jobs, warmer homes, safer streets, thriving local economies and stronger communities. 

“A huge thanks to the hard work of our candidates, activists and members that have made this happen.”

ENDS

Tweet

Back to main news page

Adblock test (Why?)

22 April 2021

• Jonathan Bartley: “The best thing anybody could do for the Earth is vote for a party that puts nature and climate at the centre of everything it does in this year’s local elections”

The Green Party has urged people to use this year’s local elections to make sure Earth Day happens every day, by voting for Green councillors who can make a real difference up and down the country on 6 May.

As world leaders gather for a climate summit on Earth Day today [1], the Greens have warned that if people want to see Green policies in their regions, then they need to vote Green.

Co-leader Jonathan Bartley said:

“The simple fact is, if you want Green, then you need to vote Green. Everybody is trying to boast about their Green credentials at the moment, but there is only one party that takes protecting the environment seriously.

“The main two parties are completely failing to grasp the need for positive transformation coming out of the pandemic. It is Green councillors and activists on the ground, working with local communities up and down the country, who are picking up the slack and doing what they can to ensure a green recovery for all.”

Bartley said while the other parties talk up their Green credentials, their actions at local authority level are often far from Green.

He said:

“We always hear greenwashing from Labour and the Conservatives, but in reality one has got a £27bn road building programme while Labour offer timid half measures and continue with outdated road building even in London.

“It is only the Greens who recognise the need for a complete transformation of a transport system so everybody has access to affordable and clean public transport.

“Meanwhile, as the Greens put forward real plans for a Green industrial revolution, Labour-led councils open new coal mines and the Conservative government closes down the very body that was responsible for industrial strategy meaning it has no plan to take the CO2 out of heavy industries like steel and cement.

“It’s clear that the best thing anybody could do for the Earth is vote for a party that puts nature and the climate at the centre of everything it does in this year’s local elections.”

ENDS

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56837927

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

20 April 2021

The Green Party has welcomed the government’s plans to significantly reduce the UK’s carbon output – particularly the decision to include aviation and shipping in domestic totals – but is clear the targets must be backed up by urgent and concrete policy if they are to be achieved.

Co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: “We welcome the fact that the global spotlight turning towards the UK has forced the government to raise its level of climate ambition but without a clear and urgent plan to reduce CO2 the targets are meaningless.”

“Let’s not forget that this government is expert in greenwashing and that we are in election season. Recognising how important the climate is to so many of us they stand up and make grand announcements but then we just don’t see the clear policy and investment that could make it a reality on the ground. 

“With a record of spending £27 billion on road building, continuing to subsidise fossil fuels and scrapping funding for retrofit programmes to keep homes warm, the reality is that Tory climate policy is going backwards. Their policies are all completely at odds with claims to ‘green ambition’.

“By contrast the Green Party has a clear 10-point plan [1] with policies that would achieve the new targets in the context of a green new deal, a joined-up approach covering all sectors including a green transport revolution and industrial transition beginning with green steel. This vital action would be paid for by a tax on polluters.”

ENDS

[1] https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Communications/10_Point_Climate_Plan.pdf

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)