The Green Party of England and Wales is today celebrating a significant by-election win by taking the Grangetown seat on Cardiff council from Labour. The result underlines Greens’ growing support across south Wales while showing support for Labour slipping away. The Green Party believes it is now on course to elect its first Green Member of the Senedd (MS) in the upcoming Caerdydd Penarth constituency contest in 2026.

This strong showing in a traditionally all-Labour ward signals a new challenge to Labour in their stronghold in south Wales and sets the tone for the upcoming Senedd elections in 2026.

The Green Party is targeting the constituency of Caerdydd Penarth where it hopes it can gain at least one member of the Senedd, likely to be the Leader of the Wales Green Party, Anthony Slaughter. Slaughter, who came second in Cardiff South and Penarth at the 2024 UK General Election, is now widely tipped to win a seat in 2026 Senedd elections.

Commenting on yesterday’s by-election in Grangetown.

“This result in Grangetown proves what we’ve always known: people want someone willing to work hard for their communities,” said Anthony Slaughter. “This is another sign of the Green vote surging here despite Labour’s traditional dominance. It’s clear people are feeling let down by Labour and want a fresh political choice: one rooted in fairness, sustainability, and community. We now stand on the brink of electing our first Green MS in Caerdydd Penarth, through a wholly proportional system where our support can finally translate into representation.”

Last week Green Party MP Siân Berry released a full log of her first year of official meetings with campaigners, unions, community groups, businesses and other lobbyists and is challenging all other MPs to do the same. The three other Green MPs are set to follow suit shortly.  

Siân is pressing Nigel Farage to ‘come clean’, given Reform UK’s links to and funding from the fossil fuel industry. The Party has reportedly received more than £2.3 million from oil and gas interests, highly polluting industries, and climate science deniers since 2019. 

Siân Berry MP said: 

“This move shows Greens are at the forefront of cleaning up politics through openness and transparency – this is an important part of following the Nolan principles of public life.  

“I hope every MP will follow suit and join me in publishing records of the campaigns and lobbyists they meet for everyone to see. In particular, I challenge Nigel Farage to come clean so we can all see the extent of corporate and fossil fuel lobbying on the work of Reform UK’s elected representatives.” 

The call for greater transparency comes as David Lammy stands accused of a conflict of interest and improper influence after a plan emerged to invite staff from oil giant Shell and the defence firm BAE Systems to work inside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

Responding, Siân said:  

“This move potentially places corporate lobbyists at the heart of Government where there is a risk they will have undue influence on international policy. These two corporations both have highly blemished records when it comes to human rights, and in the case of Shell, the company has weakened its emissions targets, moved away from renewables and is ramping up fossil fuel extraction. This is in sharp contrast to the Government’s stated aim of a green transition.”

Darlington Council Green Group leader Matthew Snedker has been appointed national Housing and Community spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales. 

Matthew has been pressing the case for more homes that are affordable and sustainable. 

Matthew said: 

“We need more homes for people that are affordable to rent or buy, and cheap to heat in winter and keep cool in ever-warmer summers. 

“We need them built where we have good transport links and community facilities like schools and health centres. 

“Instead, we have a government that wants to give developers a free hand to build for profit and trample over people’s needs for decent homes and green spaces at the same time.  

“The Green Party has long pressed for the right homes, in the right place, at the right price and I’m delighted that as well as making that case here in the North East and will now be supporting our four MPs to make the case nationally. 

“I know from my work as a councillor that people really want to build great communities and our local councils and national government can back them by providing decent homes.” 

Short biography: Matthew Snedker led Darlington Green Party to its success in having 6 councillors now, and he is the council group leader. He has stood three times for the parliamentary seat of Darlington, most recently in 2024. He supports self-organising community groups, such as a Darlo Fit-it (a repair cafe) Darlovelo (Cycling advocacy) and Darlington for Peace (an interfaith peace and unity partnership). A patron of the Passivhaus trust, he advocates for affordable and sustainable public housing with an emphasis on developments with connections to services, education and employment. 

Leicester South Green Party parliamentary candidate Sharmen Rahman has been appointed the national spokesperson for Equalities and Diversity for the Green Party of England and Wales. 

Sharmen said: 

“The Green Party understands that there can be no climate justice without social justice. This Equalities and Diversity spokesperson role is one that makes sure we match our words and deeds. 

“Too many people have been turned off getting involved in politics by the division and hate sown by far-right political parties and a Labour government that has cut support to people with disabilities while echoing the anti-immigration rhetoric of Reform UK and the Tories. 

“I will make sure that people know there is a party that stands for hope and involving everyone in our politics. 

“I will be working with our MPs in Westminster and our leadership team to support them in getting all our communities involved in making the real change we need a reality. 

“We know that there is a better way to do politics – bringing people together by facing down racism, opposing discrimination against disabled people and ensuring our LGBTIQA+ communities are safe, respected, and free to be themselves.” 

Short biography: Sharmen Rahman has represented the Party as a Parliamentary Candidate for Leicester South, where she proved herself to a polished performer on public platforms. As a councillor, policy worker, and caseworker she has been committed to the cause of anti-racism and equalities more broadly. She helped pass the motion to adopt the APPG definition of Islamophobia at Leicester City Council, led a coalition of women in the fightback against the Leicester Riots and sits on her local branch of Stand up to Racism. 

Wirral Green councillor Jo Bird has been appointed the spokesperson on Business and Trade for the Green Party of England and Wales. 

Jo will be pushing for fairer and greener business policies that meet the needs of people and planet for a sustainable future. 

Jo Bird said: 

“The Green Party has shown that there is a different way of doing business that is kind to people and the planet.  

“It includes supporting small and local businesses that serve their local communities and offering consumers the chance to choose quality, ethical products at affordable prices. 

“That’s all made a lot harder when business and trade is largely run by and for big business focussed only on the profit motive. 

“I know from decades working as a co-operative and fairtrade business consultant that there is a hunger amongst entrepreneurs and customers for the real change that will deliver for business, people and planet. 

“Whether its local councils sourcing goods and services from local suppliers, making it easier for farmers to supply schools with fresh, seasonal produce or governments ensuring the highest environmental standards are included in international trade deals, we can make change happen.” 

Short biography: Jo Bird co-led Wirral Green group of 14 councillors and came a strong second in Birkenhead in last year’s general election. Jo is keen to speak for fairer, greener business and trade, having decades of experience as a co-op and fairtrade business consultant and having proposed no-cuts, pro-nature amendments to Wirral Council’s budget. See her video here.