Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared that two-party politics is “dead” following significant gains in local elections across the United Kingdom. The Greens secured mayoral victories in Hackney and Lewisham, ousting Labour in both London boroughs, and took control of councils in Waltham Forest and Norwich. Additionally, the party won constituency seats in the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
Historic mayoral victories
Zoe Garbett defeated Labour’s Caroline Woodley in Hackney, winning 35,720 votes against 26,685, marking the first time the Greens have held a directly elected mayoralty. The position had been under Labour control since its creation in 2002. In Lewisham, Liam Shrivastava secured 35,265 votes, with Labour’s Amanda De Ryk trailing at 30,374 and Reform UK’s Pete Newman third on 7,288.
Polanski’s reaction
Polanski called the results “a historic victory” and said: “Two-party politics is not just dying, it is dead and it is buried. Whether it’s here that Labour have been rejected, or around the country, it’s very clear that the new politics is the Green Party versus Reform.” He also called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down, arguing that the country has rejected Labour’s leadership.
Council and parliamentary gains
The Greens took control of Norwich City Council, which previously had no overall majority. In Camden, the Labour leader of the council—covering Starmer’s Holborn and St Pancras constituency—lost his seat to the Greens. Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter won a seat in Caerdydd Penarth, the party’s first in the Senedd. In Scotland, the Greens secured seats in Edinburgh Central and Glasgow Southside.
Surge in support
Polanski noted a surge in Green support since he became leader last year. Ipsos political director Keiran Pedley observed that in some areas where Reform gains seats from Labour, it is partly because Labour support has shifted to the Greens, allowing Reform to benefit from the split.
