The Green Party has achieved a historic milestone by electing its first mayor in Hackney, as Zack Polanski's party continues to erode Labour's dwindling support across the country. This victory underscores the depth of dissatisfaction with Labour under Keir Starmer.
Victory for Zoe Garbett
Zoe Garbett secured the Hackney mayoralty for the Greens with 35,720 votes, while Labour incumbent Caroline Woodley received only 26,865. Ms Garbett's triumph marks another significant blow to Labour on a punishing local elections results day. Sir Keir's party had held the East-end mayoralty since its creation in 2002.
In her victory speech, Ms Garbett declared that the people of Hackney had 'made it clear that they are desperate for an alternative to this failing Labour government.' She emphasised that Hackney voters 'own Hackney' and that 'it's time to take it back.'
'People kept saying, "it's hard for me and it's hard for us". Council services are failing those who need them most, and people are struggling to make ends meet,' she said. 'To everyone who voted for me, I truly thank you for putting your trust in me today.'
She added: 'I'm going to change the system. That's why you've elected me, to lead the fightback here in Hackney. This campaign has never just been about the Green Party.'
Labour's Losses Across the Country
Ms Garbett, a London Assembly member alongside Green leader Zack Polanski, also used her speech to criticise Labour over its stance on Gaza. Among the litany of Sir Keir's failures in government, she suggested Labour had lost because it was 'supporting genocide' in Gaza.
Despite winning the Hackney mayoralty, the Greens' antisemitism crisis, exposed by the Daily Mail, appeared to affect their success at the ballot box. The Mail revealed last week that the party was investigating more than 30 candidates for hateful comments ahead of the local elections. Early analysis on Friday morning showed the Greens underperforming compared to their 2022 local election results, according to research firm More in Common.
However, the Greens continued to hit Labour in its heartlands by dominating in Greater Manchester, taking the electoral fight directly to Andy Burnham, who is awaiting his chance to return to Parliament to oust Sir Keir as Prime Minister. The Greens subjected Labour to a harrowing day, winning 18 of the 32 seats up for grabs in Greater Manchester, including in Levenshulme, Moss Side, and Woodhouse Park.
Pincer Movement by Greens and Reform
Labour was squeezed by both the Green Party and Reform in a political pincer movement replicated across the country. A major shock occurred in Tameside, where Labour lost control after 47 years. It was also a humiliating night for Labour in Salford and Bolton, with Salford's deputy leader and Bolton's council leader both losing their seats to Reform.
Bev Craig, Labour leader of Manchester City Council, on Friday refused to back Sir Keir's position in Number 10. When asked whether the Prime Minister should remain in office, Ms Craig said it is 'for national parliamentarians to be deciding.' She stated: 'The Labour Party needs to hear some really stark lessons for what's happening across the country.'
