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.