• Greens reveal MP candidates amid a stunning surge to second place, topping the Tories and Lib Dems.
• Green Party champions open selection process contrasting with Labour’s suspended local parties, ensuring candidates truly represent constituents’ voices.
• Former Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett: “More and more people are looking for actual change. I’m confident we’re going to elect the next generation of Green MPs at the General Election.”
• Joe Hudson-Small, candidate for Stratford and Bow: “Green policies will protect our planet, reverse decades of economic inequality, and help people who need it most. More Green MPs in Parliament will be transformative for our country (and the world) and it is time to make it happen.”

Today at its launch party in East London, Newham Green Party has announced its candidates for each of the three Newham constituencies. This comes as a shock poll from Find Out Now has revealed that the Green Party is now in second place in every constituency in Newham[1], well above the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats. The party also came second in the 2022 local elections and elected Newham’s only opposition councillors for the first time in 16 years.

Natalie Bennett, former Green Party Leader and Member of the House of Lords, announced the candidates to party members and supporters who assembled in the Royal Docks to celebrate the launch of the party’s General Election campaign. Natalie said: “The Green Party has had a real injection of energy and support in both Newham and Tower Hamlets in the last few years since achieving that breakthrough result in the 2022 local elections. This excellent set of candidates represent the real change that Newham and Tower Hamlets voters are crying out for.“

The poll was conducted using the gold standard MRP polling technique to calculate support for each party in each constituency in the country. In 2017, this technique allowed YouGov to be the only pollster to accurately call the 2017 General Election[2] as a ‘hung parliament’. The poll also found the new Stratford and Bow constituency to be the strongest constituency for the Green Party in London, and eighth in the whole country, at a massive 19%, up from a notional 4% in 2019.

The Green Party proudly chooses candidates using an open and competitive selection process where any member can put themselves forward and all members get a vote. This is contrasted to the local Labour Party, which has suspended all local democracy in Newham for over three years now, leaving local people with no say in who their candidates are[3]. The party is also proud that all three candidates live in their constituency.

Reacting to her selection as parliamentary candidate for the East Ham constituency, Rosie Pearce said: “I’m pleased to be selected to represent the Green Party in East Ham in the upcoming general election. It’s important East Ham has the opportunity to vote Green at this upcoming election to champion real action on inequality and climate change“. Rosie lives in Upton Park within the constituency and works in health training, saying this “has afforded me valuable insights into the reforms required to enhance local healthcare access“. She is also passionate about education, saying her “work with universities for the past six years has underscored the significance of ensuring true equitable access to education, including  early years education”. 

Joe Hudson-Small, who is standing for the new Stratford and Bow constituency and lives in Stratford, said: “People deserve a real choice in this election and our message is one of hope and optimism, not U-turns and broken promises. We’re hearing that many residents are fed up with Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and they want an MP who will support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza“. Joe is a “committed activist for affordable housing and accessible public transport” and is also the party’s candidate for the City and East London Assembly constituency, which the Stratford and Bow constituency is within. The Find Out Now poll suggests Newham’s Muslim community is abandoning Labour to support a party willing to stand up against the genocide taking place in Gaza.

The new constituency of Stratford and Bow covers areas in both Newham and Tower Hamlets, and Joe joins Tower Hamlets Green Party’s existing candidates Cllr Nathalie Bienfait standing for Poplar and Limehouse, and Elizabeth Waight who is standing in Bethnal Green and Stepney. The constituency has already elected three Green councillors, with Cllr Bienfait representing Bow West and Cllr Nate Higgins and Cllr Danny Keeling representing Stratford Olympic Park. Joe said: “Stratford and Bow may be one of our best opportunities in London and our local Green councillors have already shown residents what voting Green can do for them.”

Rob Callender, the party’s candidate for Mayor of Newham in 2022 and who is now standing for the West Ham and Beckton constituency, said: “I’m delighted to have been selected as candidate for the constituency of West Ham and Beckton, living myself in the Royal Docks at North Woolwich. I’m passionate about our Green Party values and believe that there can be no climate, environmental and ecological justice without social, racial and economic justice too“. Contrasting his party to the incumbent Labour Party, Rob added: “A Keir Starmer Labour government, almost indistinguishable from the Tories – backtracking on their environmental, climate and social promises – will need robust scrutiny to keep them both in check. The Green Party will do that and more”.

Commenting after the announcement and reflecting on the national contest, Natalie Bennett said: “The country under Tory rule is in crisis and Labour is promising nothing that will make a difference to the millions who are suffering. More and more people are looking for actual change, and that’s why the Green Party is rightly standing in every constituency for the first time ever to give voters that real choice. I’m confident we’re going to elect the next generation of Green MPs at the General Election“.

ENDS

Full bios for each of the candidates are available at https://newham.greenparty.org.uk/ge2024/ 

1. https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/blogs/ec_vipoll_20240215.html
2. https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/18355-how-yougovs-election-model-compares-final-result 
3. https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/21413087.newham-labour-slammed-party-suspends-east-ham-west-ham-clps/ 

Notes for editors:

• The party’s parliamentary candidates are Rosie Pearce for the East Ham constituency, Joe Hudson-Small for the Stratford and Bow constituency, and Rob Callender for the West Ham and Beckton constituency. 
• Stratford Olympic Park ward, which is within the Stratford and Bow constituency, had the highest average Green vote of any ward in London at the most recent local elections – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1k1JjVuQ1TidmDa2YyDsD8XfiQafa596NPAudSNNlPZQ/edit?usp=sharing
• The MRP poll from Find Out Now puts the Green Party on 19% in Stratford and Bow, 18% in East Ham and 12% in West Ham and Beckton, which puts the party in second place and above the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in all three constituencies. The full results in the three constituencies are:

The post Newham Green Party announces MP candidates as shock poll finds party surging into second place in all three constituencies appeared first on Newham Green Party.

Green Councillor for Stratford Olympic Park, Nate Higgins said: “It was always clear that the call in of the MSG Sphere was nothing more than Michael Gove’s reckless attempt to embarrass Sadiq Khan, London’s elected Mayor. Residents and every single elected representative for our area rejected the Sphere, and Michael Gove attempted to overrule us for cynical political purposes. He has failed.”

The Sphere was rejected by Sadiq Khan after a groundswell of opposition from residents and elected members. Local Green councillors for Stratford Olympic Park, where the Sphere had been due to be built, Nate Higgins and Danny Keeling have been consistent campaigners against the project, as well the Newham’s Mayor, the local MP Lyn Brown, and the area’s London Assembly member.

Nate Higgins added: “Sadiq Khan’s rejection of the project brought hope that people would finally be listened to. For no benefit to residents whatsoever, Michael Gove put residents through over a month of extra heartache over this completely unsuitable project. The applicants had already made clear they were no longer interested, but Gove called it in anyway. Locally elected members listened, in the end even MSG listened. Only Gove attempts to ignore what residents were saying loud and clear – that’s unacceptable.”

The rejection came after over half a decade of campaigning by concerned residents. Nate Higgins explained: “Nobody wants black out blinds imposed on them just for the sake of advertising screens the size of Big Ben and the London Eye, and it’s clear that is all MSG were ever interested in. Residents deserve better than that, and that’s without mentioning the chaos this project would have caused to Stratford Station and the Jubilee Line.”

Calling for a positive outcome, Nate Higgins finished: “I’ve been saying for a long time now that it’s time for a proposal to come forward that actually contributes to solving Newham’s problems, not making them so much worse. The site can and should be used for social housing to help address Newham’s desperate housing crisis, and I’m calling on Newham Council and the GLA to work to ensure that happens.”

ENDS

Councillor Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns.

The MSG Sphere was an application to build a new entertainment venue next to Stratford station in between two major residential developments as tall as Big Ben, which would be coated in a Sphere of LED advertising screens. It had been approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation’s Planning Decisions Committee in early 2022, despite overwhelming opposition from local representatives and residents. In November 2023 Sadiq Khan blocked the Sphere in his stage 2 decision. The Sphere was due to be built in Stratford Olympic Park ward.

Stratford Olympic Park is represented by two Green Party councillors.

The post Local Green councillor calls for social housing as MSG Sphere application is withdrawn appeared first on Newham Green Party.

“We’ve all seen the MSG Sphere for what it is – a massive advertising billboard masquerading as an entertainment venue that would have inflicted misery on people’s lives, including blackout blinds and incredible disruption at Stratford station. Sadiq Khan was right to reject the application on solid planning grounds. These are the reasons the LLDC should have rejected this Sphere in the first place.”

“MSG have already said they’re moving on and are selling the land, which Greens have now called to be used for social housing. Even they don’t want this to go on further, inflicting yet more heartache on residents who have lived with the uncertainty for half a decade, and costing yet more public money. For Gove to call in the application now would be an assault on democracy and I’m certain the planning inspector would only reach the same conclusions Sadiq Khan and every local representative already has.”

“I’m hopeful this intervention is simply procedural. Khan listened, and now must Gove.”

ENDS

Councillor Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns.

The MSG Sphere was an application to build a new entertainment venue next to Stratford station in between two major residential developments as tall as Big Ben, which would be coated in a Sphere of LED advertising screens. It had been approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation’s Planning Decisions Committee in early 2022, despite overwhelming opposition from local representatives and residents. In November 2023 Sadiq Khan blocked the Sphere in his stage 2 decision. The Sphere was due to be built in Stratford Olympic Park ward.

Stratford Olympic Park is represented by two Green Party councillors.

The post Stratford Olympic Park councillor urges Gove to listen to residents on MSG Sphere appeared first on Newham Green Party.

Green councillor for Stratford Olympic Park Nate Higgins, said: “Absolutely delighted to share that our campaigning on behalf of residents in Stratford Olympic Park alongside the Stop the MSG Sphere campaign has paid off, and Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London has today rejected the MSG Sphere planning application in his stage 2 decision.”

“We would not be here today without the work of so many incredible campaigners. Because of their tireless efforts, which I have been honoured to support as the local councillor alongside Cllr Danny Keeling, residents will not have to put up with black out blinds or Stratford station becoming overwhelmed.”

“London’s cultural venues are incredibly important, but this application was always completely inappropriate for the site and the 25 year advertising consent the applicants demanded show they were not interested in contributing to our capital’s cultural scene – only bombarding the residents of Stratford with endless advertising.”

“We’ll have more to say in the coming weeks about what happens next, but this incredible victory goes to show the value of community organising and listening to residents. As the local councillors, we’ll never stop doing that.”

Councillor Danny Keeling, who also represents Stratford Olympic Park, added “In a housing crisis and in an area with multiple venues already including the London Stadium cancelling this eyesore was the correct thing to do.

ENDS

Councillor Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns. Councillor Danny Keeling uses they/them pronouns.

The MSG Sphere was an application to build a new entertainment venue next to Stratford station in between two major residential developments as tall as Big Ben, which would be coated in a Sphere of LED advertising screens. It had been approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation’s Planning Decisions Committee in early 2022, despite overwhelming opposition from local representatives and residents. The Sphere was due to be built in Stratford Olympic Park ward. 

The Green Party is Newham’s biggest and only opposition party elected to Newham council. Stratford Olympic Park is represented by two Green Party councillors.

1. https://twitter.com/MarkKleinmanSky/status/1726615019801182275

The post Stratford Olympic Park local councillors celebrate as Mayor of London blocks the MSG Sphere application appeared first on Newham Green Party.

• Local mother and autism campaigner Zahra Kheyre announced as Green Party Candidate in the upcoming Plaistow North by-election

• Recent report into council scrutiny shows poor relationships between Labour councillors are preventing Newham Council being held to account

• Green candidate for Plaistow North Zahra Kheyre: “The Green Party is at the forefront supporting people with disabilities and the environment.”

• Leader of the Opposition Councillor Danny Keeling: “Labour are too divided to govern effectively.”

Newham Green Party, the official opposition on Newham Council, have today announced their candidate for the upcoming Plaistow North by-election. This by-election is due to be held after Labour councillor Daniel Lee-Phakoe resigned from his seat.

Zahra Kheyre, who is a local Mum of three, has been chosen by local Green Party members to represent them in the by-election. Kheyre is an autism campaigner, and supports other parents of children with autism after her own son was diagnosed.

Reacting to her selection, Zahra said: “I am extremely passionate about the community I live in. Children’s education and disabilities has been an area I have been campaigning for. The Green Party is at the forefront supporting people with disabilities and the environment. Representing the Green Party in this election will have a big impact on where I live and I felt it was the right thing to do. I want to achieve a better outcome for the community I represent. “

Zahra has lived in Newham for the past sixteen years and moved to the UK as a child to escape war in Somaliland. After ten years of navigating failing local SEND services, Zhara started an online autism support service, including translating information on autism to Somali and teaching aspects of autism to parents of children with autism. Zahra has organised online webinars with Doctors from America, Pakistan and many Somali professionals, and will be on the Educational Panel for the 2024 Disability Expo.

Discussing her family’s own experiences, Zahra said: “Newham council’s SEND services are not good enough and parents are worried their children are not getting the support they have a right to. I have had to take Newham Council to court to fight for what my child deserves. As a councillor, ensuring all children in Newham get the education they need will be a top priority.”

Leader of the Opposition on Newham Council Councillor Danny Keeling said: “I’m really excited to see local members pick Zahra to represent us in this election. As recent news coverage has shown, Labour are clearly too divided and too busy tearing chunks out of each other to govern effectively. We urgently need more Greens elected to the council to provide the tough but fair opposition we have promised, and I know Zahra will make a fantastic representative for the people of Plaistow North.”

Local Green Party members selected Zahra as their candidate with over 60% of the vote with four other members standing for the position.

ENDS

The Green Party are Newham’s main and only opposition party elected to Newham Council. Zahra Kehyre uses she/her pronouns. Danny Keeling uses they/them pronouns.

The post Newham Green Party announce Plaistow North by-election candidate, as Newham Labour branded ‘too divided’ to govern effectively appeared first on Newham Green Party.

• Newham Council approved a report appointing a Green Party councillor to every council committee after seventeen months of shutting Greens off of vital committees
• Green Councillor Nate Higgins: “Labour have been hiding from scrutiny for too long. Newham voted for change, and we’re going to deliver it”
• Green Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Danny Keeling: “Greens will work hard to hold this administration to account” 

Monday’s meeting of Full Council has agreed[1] to appoint Green Party councillors to every committee on the council, including vital Audit and Chief Officer Appointment committees. This came after a seventeen-month campaign from Green Party councillors claiming the previous approach was not in line with the law.

Green Councillor Nate Higgins (Stratford Olympic Park), who led the campaign, reacted: “This report confirmed that the council was not acting in line with its legal obligations in shutting Green councillors off of vital committees like Audit and Chief Officer Appointments Committee as they have for the last seventeen months.”

The council was forced to appoint Greens to committees after legal advice confirmed Green claims that the council was not acting in line with legal obligations. Councillor Higgins said: “We should have and we could have reached this point much sooner. When we were first elected, we made the case that opposition must be represented on our committees. We were told we were wrong. Today’s report confirms they should have listened to us then.”

Discussing his difficult experience of campaigning for change, Higgins added: “The Labour Party should have been an ally in fighting to ensure our council met legal obligations but they refused. The abuse and gaslighting I have received from the council and from Labour for consistently making the case for the importance of proper scrutiny which is protected in legislation is unacceptable. It is beyond clear that if I was not willing to face up to and withstand the abuse and the attacks, we wouldn’t be here today. I hope I will receive apologies from those responsible. I fear I will not.”

Higgins finished: “Last year, when Newham voters chose to have an opposition for the first time in over a decade, they told us that they wanted things to change, and no amount of abuse will stop Greens fighting for that. And now with this report the council can hide from scrutiny no more – we are one step closer to delivering that change.”

Green Councillor Danny Keeling, who leads the opposition at Newham Council, said: “Since our election, Greens have been working hard to scrutinise the council across the few committees Labour have allowed us to sit on. Now that legal advice have forced them to accept scrutiny, Greens will work that much harder to hold this administration to account including constitutional changes.”

ENDS

1. https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s168579/Political%20proportionality%20-%20Council%20report.pdf

The Green Party are Newham’s main and only opposition party elected to Newham Council. Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns. Danny Keeling uses they/them pronouns.

The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 s.15(5)(a) requires that no party can be given all the seats on any council committee. Until now the vast majority of committees have been 100% Labour councillors.

The post Green win: Newham Labour Council forced to submit to opposition scrutiny appeared first on Newham Green Party.

Newham’s Labour Cabinet has today approved a plan[1] to deliver borough-wide 20mph two years later than promised. The policy was in both the Green and Labour manifestos during last year’s local elections.

Councillor Danny Keeling (Stratford Olympic Park, Green), who leads the opposition at Newham Council, said: “Introducing a 20mph speed limit borough-wide is the right thing to do, and Greens unequivocally support it. That’s why both parties backed the policy in our election manifestos endorsed by almost 80% of voters. We know that collisions at this speed are significantly less likely and less fatal and that it does not substantially impact journey times. But we shouldn’t have to wait two years for safe streets – that’s not what residents voted for.”

The proposal was red-rated in the corporate plan back in November, which means it was at significant risk of failing to be delivered. Councillor Nate Higgins (Stratford Olympic Park, Green) quizzed Labour Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz on the timeline for delivery in a November 29th Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting, Mayor Fiaz responded: “My understanding of the October 2023 is that is when it will largely all be complete”.

Now, just one month before the timeline Mayor Fiaz committed to, cabinet members have today backed a plan that won’t be complete until late 2025. Councillor Higgins said: “The Mayor promised me this would be done by October. Councillors are being told to wait when asking to make dangerous roads in our wards safer for a borough-wide plan to be in place that will now be delivered two years late. Either Mayor Fiaz was wrong when she made that commitment, or something has changed. Labour must now answer: What on earth has gone wrong to delay this plan by two years?”

Councillor Higgins, calling for action, added: “If Labour is going to take two years to implement safer roads borough-wide, the council must be responsive to demands for change on individual dangerous roads in the meantime. The council knows which roads are dangerous in my ward because I won’t stop telling them. It’s time for action, not yet more delays”. 

It has now been 10 months since Mayor Fiaz made that commitment, and the Cabinet is only just now approving the implementation of the borough-wide program over a timeline of two years. Southwark[2] and Camden[3] both appear to have completed their programs within 8 months, and Tower Hamlets[4] appears to have completed their program within 2 months. London Boroughs Healthy Streets Scorecard data shows Newham has the lowest proportion of 20mph streets of any inner London borough at just 41%[5]

Greens have long been called for 20mph speed limits borough-wide, with Councillor Higgins calling for action at his first Full Council meeting in June 2022: “Greens are delighted to see almost universal support for a 20mph speed limit across the borough. We’re calling on the council to implement this recommendation, there really can be no excuses at this point.”

Councillor Keeling finished: “Labour’s delays have real, human consequences. How many collisions will we see in these two years that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred? How many fatalities could have been avoided if Labour had gotten their act together more quickly? These are the questions Labour must now answer.” 

ENDS

Newham Green Party is the largest and only opposition group on Newham Council. Councillor Danny Keeling uses they/them pronouns. Councillor Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns. 

Notes:

1. https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s166520/CAF_Cabinet%20Report_Boroughwide%2020mph_%20FINAL_250823.pdf
2. https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s36091/Report%20Making%20Southwark%20a%2020mph%20Borough.pdf
3. https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/borough-wide-20mph-speed-limit/
4. https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/documents/s66263/8.1a%2020mph%20Cabinet%20Report.pdf
5. https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/results/results_input_indicators/#Results

The post Newham Green Councillors demand to know “what’s gone wrong?” as borough-wide 20mph set to be delivered two years late appeared first on Newham Green Party.

The video can be viewed here

Below is a transcript of the speech:

Good evening council, and thank you Chair. It’s wonderful to welcome you to your new position.

I want to thank the council officers for their exceptional dedication and special recognition to the Interim Chief Executive Colin Ansell for his invaluable support.

I also want to acknowledge and stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian community – the largest in the country. We condemn the ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine and we are proud of Newham residents, for their support and hospitality towards Ukrainian families. Although our campaign to host Eurovision in Newham – an event celebrating European unity – was unsuccessful, it truly was Ukraine’s party in our house. 

Newham faces a longstanding cost of living crisis, due in part to the Tory/Lib Dem choice: austerity. Public services have been decimated. The housing crisis is at boiling point, with the fastest rent increases nationwide. Temporary housing conditions, shown by the Ali family, all seven of them forced to live in a house full of mould, is disgraceful. Our air quality is lethal, and the COVID pandemic have only made things worse.

I’m proud to stand with every striking worker fighting for fair pay and conditions, including desperate healthcare workers and even, our bin workers. 

Enough is Enough! and the Green Party are the only party to have endorsed the campaign’s demands.

Greens have consistently opposed austerity and we know addressing the cost of living crisis is intertwined with tackling the climate and ecological crises. Meanwhile, Labour’s Sadiq Khan refuses to stop the Silvertown Tunnel. Newham Labour must now back alternatives for the tunnel – starting with supporting our motion.

As Greens, we represent almost 20% of voters in Newham. We have been bold and ambitious for what we can achieve – and we have delivered. 

We have shown that where Greens lead, others follow.

Our recent successes include overturning the misguided Public Space Protection Order that endangered sex workers. Thanks to the collaboration of Greens, residents, campaign groups, and academics.

It was right that the first motion we proposed was in support of Proportional Representation and Votes at 16. 

Our second successful motion affirms our commitment to trans rights. Being in Newham, which has the highest proportion of trans residents in the UK, we take pride in safeguarding their rights. 

The Tories and the media have got to stop their relentless attacks on my community. As a non-binary councillor, I know we must also change and improve our council’s culture and I’m proud of working with the Interim Chief Executive to establish a Gender Diversity program for councillors. We must also support teachers fighting to educate young people about the wonderful diversity of our society. 

We take our role as the Opposition seriously. We’ve supported groups like Newham City Farm and attended Beckton Masterplan events. We’ve fought London City Airport expansion where the Labour Mayor Khan is actively backing the use of private jets for the 1% in a climate crisis.

We opposed a budget with nearly 20 million £ in cuts whilst the council spent over £160,000 on the coronation, the second highest in the UK. Cllr Higgins blocked a budget scrutiny recommendation to increase minimum residency requirements for housing.

Stratford Olympic Park residents appreciate our regular litter picks, support on community assemblies, fighting for a new zebra crossing, and hosting a community safety meeting attended by over 150 residents. 

We’ve advocated for residents with various local organisations, ensuring their concerns are addressed. We are proud of challenging East London Energy, achieving a year-long bill freeze and demanding better customer service, we will also continue to fight unjust park charges.

Most of all, we have been visible. We listen. Greens work hard all year round – residents deserve nothing less!

We’re proud of the relentless effort we’ve put into opposing the MSG Sphere. It is an assault on democracy. After six months of Green demands, Mayor Fiaz finally acted to push her Labour colleague Sadiq Khan to take action on the Sphere. 

However, this year, we witnessed filibustering, agenda manipulation, and cynical copying of motions. The promised constitutional review must be prioritised now. 

We’re ready to work constructively with the Labour Group – for Newham’s benefit. I want to be able to find common ground to improve the borough and residents’ lives. We are open to working collaboratively and constructively and I hope to do so in this coming year.

Thank you and we wish you all a lovely evening.

The post Cllr Danny Keeling and the Greens get the first ever Leader of the Opposition speech appeared first on Newham Green Party.

We are excited to announce our candidates in the upcoming Boleyn and Wall End by-elections

Joe Hudson-Small

and Tassadduq Cheema.

Last year Newham Green Party made history – finally breaking the one-party state that Labour had control of for 16 years, electing two Green councillors.

Now Newham has the opportunity to elect two more!

We have two amazing committed candidates chosen by our local members:

Tassadduq Cheema in Wall End and

Joe Hudson-Small in Boleyn.

These were rightly incredibly competitive selections – meanwhile Labour’s two candidates have been handpicked by Keir Starmer – shutting out local members.

Above all the critics, and the complacent Labour councillors, Nate Higgins and Danny Keeling won in May 2022 by 51% to Labour’s 34% – the biggest Green vote in London.

We overtook the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, becoming Newham’s undeniable second party. 

It shows that Newham wants change but they need to invest in a party they can trust and that will beat Labour.

For the last year Nate & Danny have been working even harder standing up for residents in Stratford Olympic Park, as well forming Newham’s first Official Opposition in almost two decades. They’ve been sitting on committees and holding the council to account at full council, with Danny even giving the first Leader of the Opposition speech in May.

Residents are telling us how much they appreciate the hard work and visibility of our Green councillors.

We thought we would have to wait until 2026 to give more residents in Newham the opportunity to choose something new for their communities. But two Labour councillors have now resigned triggering two by-elections – one in Boleyn and one in Wall End.

Boleyn itself has had 11 councillors in 10 years due to resignations and the Greens report that residents in Boleyn have told them “we feel like we are being taken for granted, people get elected then resign after a year”.

With the success of the Greens in the local elections where the Greens won x amounts of seats in the the 2023 elections and the first full control of a council in Mid-Soffolk, Newham Green Party are punching through to get more councillors to add to the opposition in the council.

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Danny Keeling says “Both Joe and Cheema would make excellent councillors, representing the best for their areas, we have proved to Newham we are electable and are the true left wing opposition. However I won’t be complacent here, we appreciate every single vote that comes our way to ensure we can hold this administration to account.”

The Green Party have a poll of 190 residents in Boleyn ward, stating their voting intentions are Labour on 43%, Greens on 34% and Lib Dems 13% and Conservatives on 10%. 

Candidate for Boleyn is Joe Hudson-Small who used to live in Boleyn before illegally evicted, he is standing to save Queens Market, stop cuts by Labour and to hold this council to account due to the sheer numbers that Labour usually win.

We have proven we can win in Newham against all the odds – and win big. We work hard, and we take nothing for granted. We are still a small party – though we may be Newham’s second party we are far from the second wealthiest, so we do rely on our members and supporters.

However big or small the donation is, we appreciate it just as we do each as we do every vote and every minute of support people give us.

But every little helps.

We’re really inspired by all the people coming forward to say how much of a difference they feel Nate and Danny are making here in Newham. But with more Green councillors, we could do so much more, and we need to ensure we have the resources to make the best use of this amazing enthusiasm.

If you want to see more Greens in the council chamber, arguing for a truly green and people-powered future for our great borough, donate now to ensure Newham residents hear our message.

We know it’s a difficult time at the moment, so if you are unable to donate your money – just as important will be your TIME once we’ve spent the money we receive on election materials to get them through people’s doors to reach as many people as possible.

The post Our candidates in the upcoming Boleyn and Wall End by-elections appeared first on Newham Green Party.

• London’s Environment Committee has recommended Sadiq Khan reject the proposed MSG Sphere in his stage two decision[1]
• The MSG Sphere is a proposed entertainment venue with a ‘skin’ of over 1 million LEDs, capable of beaming adverts through the windows of nearby residential developments
• Local Green Councillor Nate Higgins: “Sadiq Khan must listen to residents, ward councillors, the Mayor of Newham, and now the Environment Committee and reject the application.”
• Stop MSG Sphere: “We have long argued that this development will have many detrimental impacts on residents and the local area, including from light pollution. Khan must remember he represents millions of Londoners, not big business based in the United States.”
• Environment Committee chair Zack Polanski AM: “The MSG sphere would be hugely detrimental both for people and wildlife – and I welcome the growing political consensus in refusing this project”

The London Assembly Environment Committee, chaired by Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski AM, has this week published a light pollution report recommending Sadiq Khan reject the proposed MSG Sphere when the application is referred to Sadiq Khan for his stage two decision. This comes after years of campaigning from local campaign group Stop MSG Sphere.

The Sphere is opposed by Stratford Olympic Park councillors Nate Higgins and Danny Keeling, who represent the ward it is due to be built in, as well as Newham’s Planning Authority, local Mayor, MP, and London Assembly member. 

Green Party Councillor Nate Higgins said: “We’re incredibly thankful for the support of London’s Environment Committee in backing our residents’ opposition to the installation of massive LED advertising screens in the middle of a highly residential area. We’ve worked hard to make the voice of residents heard on this – through the press, letters, motions and speeches, and we’re delighted this now has the attention of London’s Environment committee.”

Four years ago, thousands signed a petition[2] led by local campaign group Stop MSG Sphere. Responding to the report, a spokesperson for the campaign said: “We are delighted the Committee is recommending that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, rejects the MSG Sphere planning application. We have long argued that this development will have many detrimental impacts on residents and the local area, including from light pollution. Khan must remember he represents millions of Londoners, not big business based in the United States.”

Local resident who lives opposite the proposed site of the Sphere, Chris Brooks said: “Like so many who live nearby, I’m worried about the damage this proposal would cause. There would be chaos at Stratford Station, which is already dangerous, and the light pollution would be harmful to residents and wildlife. I’m frustrated that the proposal could go ahead despite the opposition of my local councillors and the entire council itself. This report gives me hope that Khan will listen to us and block the Sphere.”  

Green Party Deputy Leader and London Assembly member Zack Polanski AM, who chairs the Environment Committee, said: “Our cross party report makes clear the detrimental effects of light pollution. Unlike air and water pollution which rightly get considered – the Mayor lacks a strategy for light. The MSG sphere would be hugely detrimental both for people and wildlife – and I welcome the growing political consensus in refusing this project.”

Despite the widespread opposition by residents and elected representatives at every level, in March 2022 the London Legacy Development Corportation’s Planning Committee recommended the Sphere for approval. It is now down to Sadiq Khan to make his stage 2 decision.

Councillor Higgins said: “The MSG Sphere is an assault on democracy. You don’t get this sort of unity among elected representatives in opposition to the Sphere without widespread anger among residents. Sadiq Khan must listen to residents, ward councillors, the Mayor of Newham, West Ham MP Lyn Brown, Assembly Members, and now the London Assembly’s Environment Committee and reject the application.”

Calling for action, Stop MSG Sphere’s spokesperson added: “Join us and the Committee in urging Khan to reject the MSG Sphere by emailing mayor@london.gov.uk.”

Greens have long opposed the MSG Sphere. In the 2021 London Mayoral Election, Green candidate Sian Berry AM signed a pledge to oppose the Sphere, and in August 2022 wrote to Sadiq Khan asking him to reject the application[3]. Green councillors Nate Higgins and Danny Keeling, who both represent Stratford Olympic Park, wrote to Sadiq Khan in December 2022[4] asking him to intervene. Greens also led a campaign from July 2022 to February 2023 calling for the Mayor of Newham to ask for Khan to reject the application, which was ultimately successful[5].

The application will soon be referred to Sadiq Khan for his stage 2 decision, after which Secretary of State Michael Gove MP will have the opportunity to call in the application. The campaign to Stop the Sphere will continue. 

ENDS

Councillor Nate Higgins uses he/him pronouns. Zack Polanski AM uses he/him pronouns. Chris Brooks uses he/him pronouns. 

Notes

The Green Party is the main and only opposition party elected to Newham Council.

1. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/Environment%20Committee%20-%20Light%20Pollution%20Report.pdf (page 5)
2. https://www.change.org/p/lldc-stop-the-msg-london-sphere
3. https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/publication-sian-berry-letter-mayor-recommending-he-refuse-planning-msg-sphere
4. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sQxMGEP0YKtVWi7zhL-1TUALEDWHciWb/view?usp=sharing
5. https://newham.greenparty.org.uk/2023/02/22/newham-mayor-accepts-green-demands-to-intervene-on-msg-sphere/

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