News and Views

The Year Ahead for Southwark Green Party

2025 is another big year for the Southwark Green Party.

While we cast a critical eye over the performance of the Labour governent in Westminster, we devote our energy to preparing for next year’s local elections to Southwark Council. With plenty of opportunities for our members and supporters to connect and campaign, head over to our Events page for details of what is happening and when.

  

  

Local members: get involved and play your part!

Want to see a greener future in Southwark? Join the Green Party 

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Vote Green on July 4th

The climate emergency and cost of living crisis mean that choosing to vote Green is more important than ever. There are Green Party candidates seeking your vote in every constituency in Southwark. 

Campaign visual of Claire Sheppard, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Peckham Campaign visual of Pete Elliott, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood. Campaign visual of Callum Fowler, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Lewisham West and East Dulwich.  Campaign visual of Susan Hunter, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark.

The Green Party offers real hope, real change. 

Read the Green Party manifesto here to discover the genuinely progressive approach to delivering the fairer, greener future that our country and communities need.

Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay launched the manifesto on 12 June 2024.

Be part of the change on July 4th and Vote Green.

 


Constituency: Peckham

Green Party candidate: Claire Sheppard

Campaign visual of Claire Sheppard, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Peckham

I am a compassionate, hard-working campaigner with community in my heart, and I am asking for your vote in the Green Election. I am a Peckham-based community activist, small business owner, cancer survivor, and mum who has lived in the area for 25 years. In 2020, I co-founded Nunhead Knocks, a community mutual aid group, to provide and coordinate practical support in SE15 throughout Covid. During the winter of 2022/23, we pivoted to providing small community grants, fundraising over £40k in three years. In one tough winter alone, we distributed almost £20k in individual grants of £50 to meet basic needs for food and fuel.

I came to politics later in life following major life experiences: new motherhood, cancer treatment, and applying for Universal Credit. I vowed that once I recovered, I would make a positive contribution to my community and do all I could to leave the world a better place for my son. I have campaigned in six elections in the last six years, and as the Green Party Candidate for Lambeth and Southwark in the London Assembly elections in 2021, I beat the Tories into 3rd place. I am a proven hard-working, caring, and respected campaigner who will work her socks off!

 

[The Peckham constituency includes the Southwark council wards of North Walworth, Faraday, Old Kent Road, Peckham, St. Giles, Rye Lane and Nunhead & Queens Road.]


Constituency: Dulwich & West Norwood

Green Party candidate: Pete Elliott

Campaign visual of Pete Elliott, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood.

I am an engineer and project manager with 22 years of military service and 11 years working in Whitehall. I understand government operations and am critical of wasteful spending and privatization. Appalled by the atrocities in Palestine, I have criticized Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak for not condemning war crimes. I entered politics due to issues like library closures and the treatment of residents on 'regeneration' estates by Lambeth's Labour Council, which I accuse of financial mismanagement.

Drawn to the Green Party for its foreign policy and stance on refugees, I served as a Lambeth councillor from 2018 to 2022. My achievements include advocating for the climate emergency declaration in London, banning glyphosates, and pushing for fossil fuel divestment.

Currently, I chair the Gipsy Hill Safer Neighbourhood Panel. As an MP, I aim to represent all residents, support local organizations, tackle the Climate Emergency, reverse austerity, campaign for electoral reform, nationalize key industries, and advocate for renters' rights.

 

[The Dulwich & West Norwood constituency straddles both Southwark and Lambeth boroughs; the Southwark council wards within D&WN are Champion Hill, Dulwich Village and Dulwich Wood.]


Constituency: Lewisham West & East Dulwich

Green Party candidate: Callum Fowler

Campaign visual of Callum Fowler, Green Party candidate for the constituency of Lewisham West and East Dulwich.

I have made the South East of London my home, after moving to the city nearly five years ago. I have studied in Deptford, marched in Lewisham, and have lived across a number of boroughs in the region. Lewisham and Dulwich are two areas full of life and community, and I am tired of seeing this being eroded by Westminster politics. There are many fundamental issues in this country, making life extremely hard for many people, and I want to offer an alternative for people to vote for against the current lacklustre main parties. I will always stand for economic, social, and climate justice for anyone who calls the constituency their home.

 

[The Lewisham West & East Dulwich constituency straddles both Southwark and Lewisham boroughs; the Southwark council wards within LW&ED are Goose Green, Peckham Rye and Dulwich Hill.]


Constituency: Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Green Party candidate: Catherine Dawkins

 

I am delighted to be standing as your Green candidate for Vauxhall and

[Read more...]
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London Green Party: Election Manifesto

Zoë Garbett has launched her manifesto for a greener, more affordable London. 

The Green Party candidate for Mayor of London offers a more bold alternative to the current Labour administration at City Hall: “London needs a more ambitious mayor" insists Zoë, "more committed to taking on the challenges ahead of us. The time for being timid has passed, we need to be courageous and have a clear plan for London.”

Read the manifesto here and a digested 'mini manifesto' here.  

Photograph of Zoë Garbett, Green Party candidate for London Mayor, with London Assemby members Sian Berry, Zack Polanski and Caroline Russell.""

Zoë Garbett, with (left to right) London Assemby members Sian Berry, Zack Polanski and Caroline Russell.

 

Want to help get Zoë Garbett get elected? See our events page for Action Days.

 

Snapshot of the election

Polling day is Thursday 2nd May

Approved Photo ID is needed. See details here on this important change.

In the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections you can vote once for a Mayor of London (Green Party candidate is Zoë Garbett) and for two members of the London Assembly, one to represent your constituency (Green Party candidate for Lambeth & Southwark is Claire Sheppard) and one for London as a whole.

 

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Meet Your Green Party Candidate for London Assembly

Claire Sheppard, a compassionate, hard-working campaigner with community in her heart is asking for your vote for the London Assembly.

Claire – candidate for Lambeth & Southwark and on the London-wide List of candidates –  is a Peckham-based community activist, small business owner, cancer survivor and mum who has lived in the area for 25 years.

In 2020 Claire co-founded Nunhead Knocks community mutual aid group, providing and co-ordinating practical support in SE15 trough Covid. In winter 2022/23 the group pivoted to providing small community grants, fundraising over £40k over three years. In one tough winter alone almost £20k in individual grants of £50 meeting the basic needs of food and fuel.

Claire came to politics later in life following major life experiences: new motherhood, cancer treatment and applying for Universal Credit. She vowed that once recovered, she would make a positive contribution to her community and do all she could to leave the world a better place for her son. She has campaigned in six elections in the last six years, and as Green Party Candidate for Lambeth and Southwark in the London Assembly elections in 2021 beat the Tories into 3rd place.

Claire is a proven hard-working, caring and respected campaigner who, in her words, will work her socks off for her fellow Londoners.

[Read more...]
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Meet Your Green Party Candidate for London Mayor

Zoë Garbett, a passionate and committed councillor with a proven track record of election success is the Green Party candidate for Mayor of London.

A Dalston ward Councillor in the London Borough of Hackney, Zoë is passionate about tackling injustice & inequality. From her work in the NHS and in public health, she understands the root causes of issues and is not afraid to stand up for people when she see injustice. Zoë campaigns against the use stop and search and racist policing through work with groups and by holding authorities to account. And when food delivery riders were unfairly targeted by the police, she challenged the officers on the scene and was relentless in her public questioning. She has joined striking workers on picket lines and championed the needs of small, local businesses.

Zoë works with people and community groups to develop policy and services, using her experience in the NHS and as the leader of the opposition Green Group on Hackney council to amplify voices and issues ignored by others. She works alongside residents in

 

 

[Read more...]
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Calling on Southark Council to support the people of Gaza

A Southwark member gives their take on how the Green Party is providing leadership on the war in Gaza

 

I was a Labour Party member for 48 years until November last year when I joined the Greens. Whilst over the years I became increasingly disillusioned with Keir Starmer reneging on all the policy pledges he gave when he was elected leader, it was his failure to call out Israel’s crimes or to join the majority of countries at the United Nations to call for a ceasefire that was the final straw. I remember living through the genocide in Rwanda and the mass murder in Srebrenica and feeling so helpless. But in the case of Gaza we can stop the killing. If the people of the world shout loudly enough, those who are providing Israel with the political support and the weapons of mass destruction will have to listen. As a key backer of Israel, the UK can exert great influence.

Both Conservative and Labour party leaderships have been happy to support

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Global Green Congress Reportback

Global Greens Congress - Report back
Green Party members gathered in person and on Zoom, at Camberwell Library last Wednesday 9 August to hear reports from the recent Global Greens Congress in Seoul, South Korea. 
Attendees
Speakers and attendees at Camberwell Library for the panel event
Catherine opened the session with a report on how she was selected as the representative of the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW), the arrangements for her travel and accommodation and the modules she attended in the three-day congress. She also gave a flavour of
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Members Business Meeting - July

Members Business Meeting - July
Southwark Green Party held its second new style Members Business Meeting on Saturday 22 July in the splendid Dulwich Library. Members discussed a number of topics including:
- On-going campaigning activity and the 2024 London Assembly Elections
- Newington by-election 
- Candidate selection for the General Election
- Party finances
Sadly the weather put paid to our plans for a picnic in Dulwich Park so discussions were continued informally over lunch at "The Plough".
Our next quarterly Business Meeting will be in October in the North East of the Borough - check the Events page for detail on this in the coming weeks and to keep up to date with our activities.
If you'd like to get more involved supporting the work of the Southwark Green Party get in touch - [email protected]
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Newington By-Election Result

Newington By-Election Result
Labour held its seat at the recent by-election with the Lib Dems increasing their share to come second. The Green Party candidate Ruben Buendia, aged just nineteen, who finished his A-level exams days earlier, finished third with 9 per cent of the vote. He said: “I was quite happy with the result – we got a warm and positive response.”
LAB: 57.6% (-5.3)
LDM: 27.9% (+15.4)
GRN: 9.0% (-6.2)
CON: 5.6% (-3.9)
[Read more...]
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Newington By-Election

Newington By-Election
A By-Election has been called for Newington Ward due to the resignation of a Labour councillor. The poll takes place on Thursday 29 June and we're really pleased that local Green Party member and activist Ruben Gonzalez Buendia has been selected to fight the seat. The Green Party came second in the 2022 Council Elections with 15% of the vote and we hope Ruben can do even better this time round.
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Global Greens Congress

We are excited to announce that our local activist Catherine Dawkins has been selected as the sole delegate for the Green Party of England and Wales at the upcoming Global Greens Congress in Korea this June 2023. Attending such an important event requires significant financial resources, including travel, carbon offsetting and accommodation - so we have launched a crowdfunder and ask for your support in spreading the word and contributing with some cash, if you are able.

Why Global Greens Congress matters

As a long-time member and passionate advocate for the Green Party, Catherine understands that the Global Greens Congress is a crucial opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from around the world, share best practices, and develop new strategies to fight climate change, promote social justice, and

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Say No to Bus Cuts

Southwark Green Party stands against Transport for London and Sadiq Khan's proposed cuts to buses in Southwark.

If these cuts go ahead, it will harm many residents of Southwark who can least afford to lose these services. Many of us will find it harder to get to work, see family and friends, or attend essential services. During a climate emergency we need to encourage and expand these vital public transport options, not cut them and at the same time support and promote active travel options.

Local campaigner in Nunhead & Queens Road, Richard Taylor says "The loss of the 12 and 78 services would have a particularly bad impact on

 

[Read more...]
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Show your support

On Thursday May 5, elections take place for Southwark Council.

Show your support for the Green Party by displaying a poster in your window.

 

Downloand and print in colour or print the black & white version onto your brightest green paper!

 

If you want to learn more about the Green Party's vision for London, see the most recent London-wide manifesto here and statements on some key topics from local candidates here. For a national perspective, the Political Programme truly is a vision of a better world.

Find a full list of Green Party candidates standing across Southwark here. And if you want your community represented by councillors that will work tirelessly for your community - Vote Green on May 5th.

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Social Care

All adults should have access to free social care, say Southwark Greens

The Green Party in Southwark has pledged to push for fully funded social care for all adults, which would put social care on a par with the NHS.

In the run up to the local elections

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Homes & Energy

Greens pledge to tackle cost of living crisis with a retrofit revolution

Southwark Green Party candidates have pledged to tackle growing levels of fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis

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Wellbeing Economy for Southwark

Green Party calls for health and wellbeing to be top of the agenda in Southwark decision-making 

Southwark Green Party is calling for a shift from traditional thinking to the embracing of “a wellbeing economy”. 

[Read more...]
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Supporting Southwark's Small Businesses

Greens commit support for small business in Southwark

Southwark Green Party calls for measures to support small businesses green their operations, improve employee welfare and make it easier

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Safe Streets for Southwark

Greens commit to Safe Streets for Southwark

Green Party councillors in Southwark will prioritise funding public transport as well as cycling and walking infrastructure if elected in the local elections next month.

As voters prepare to go to the ballot box on 5 May,

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2022 Candidates for Southwark Council

The election for new councillors for Southwark takes place on Thursday 5 May.

Our communities and our environment can be better served with Greens elected to the council chamber.

We have seen the positive impact Green councillors have had in other parts of London and across the country - and it’s time to see the same here in Southwark. See a full list of Green Party candidates listed below.

Vote Green Party for Fairer, Greener Communities.

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Camberwell hustings 2022

Eleanor Margolies and Brian Symons are the Green Party candidates for St Giles ward in Camberwell, with Valerie Remy in Camberwell Green and Mike Millar in Champion Hill.

To book your place at the SE5 Forum hustings on 20 April: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-election-hustings-camberwell-tickets-310503473247

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