Green Party Mayoral Candidate Forms Alliance With Controversial Former Labour Official
Zoe Garbett, the Green Party's candidate for Mayor of Hackney, has established a significant political partnership with Heather Mendick, a former Labour Party official who was expelled from the party following antisemitism allegations. This collaboration comes as the Greens prepare for local elections in May, with Garbett aiming to unseat the incumbent Labour mayor through a campaign heavily focused on Palestinian issues.
Controversial Comments on Hamas Attack
Ms. Mendick, who served as Labour's Jewish community liaison officer under Jeremy Corbyn before her expulsion in 2022, has publicly described the October 7 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people as an "act of armed resistance" rather than terrorism. On the day of the attack, she wrote on social media platform X that "Palestine has an indisputable right to defend itself from terror."
In subsequent comments to the Mail, Mendick defended her position, stating: "I'm Jewish and I feel a responsibility to speak against the war crimes and human rights abuses being committed in my name by Israel." She has maintained that Hamas's actions should be understood as resistance to what she termed a "Jewish-supremacist regime" rather than antisemitism.
Joint Campaign Platform
The alliance between Garbett and Mendick represents a formal collaboration between the Green Party candidate and the Hackney Independent Socialist Collective, of which Mendick is a key member. Their joint campaign literature features distinctive half-red, half-green flyers urging voters to support "your pro-Palestine candidates" and accusing Keir Starmer and Hackney's Labour council of "supporting genocide in Gaza."
According to the Hackney Independent Socialists website, the groups have agreed not to stand against each other in the May elections and are mutually endorsing candidates. The collaboration specifically aims to elect Garbett as Mayor of Hackney, with both parties committing to work as a team if she succeeds.
Broader Green Party Context
This development occurs alongside other controversial moments within the Green Party. Deputy leader Mothin Ali, who previously apologized for stating on October 7 that Palestinians had the right to "fight back," recently launched the party's local election campaign with a speech accusing the Government of being "complicit in the genocide in Gaza" and labeling Sir Keir Starmer as "spineless."
Additionally, Ali declined to condemn a controversial motion equating Zionism with racism that will be debated at the Greens' spring conference this weekend. These positions have drawn criticism from political opponents who accuse the Greens of tolerating antisemitic views.
Political Backlash and Criticism
Labour MP David Taylor has strongly criticized the Green Party's association with Mendick, stating: "The Labour Party rightly expelled Ms. Mendick over alleged antisemitism, so why is Zoe Garbett now not only endorsing her, but running on a joint platform? If the Greens had any principles they would end any association with these candidates immediately."
Former Labour minister and crossbench peer Lord Austin added: "This joint ticket is just another example of hard-left agitators lining up to undermine our country and its institutions. Ms. Mendick was kicked out of Labour because of her antisemitic views, but instead of steering well clear of her, the Greens are teaming up with her."
Lord Austin further argued that local politics should focus on domestic issues rather than international conflicts, saying: "Local councillors should stick to campaigning on their plans for schools and social services, keeping the streets clean and other local services, not religious identity or conflicts in the Middle East."
Green Party Response
A Green Party spokesman sought to distance the party from Mendick's specific comments, stating: "These comments do not reflect the Green Party's position on the horrific attacks of October 7, which we have repeatedly condemned." However, the party has not disavowed the political alliance between Garbett and Mendick, nor has it addressed the broader concerns about antisemitism raised by critics.
The collaboration represents a significant development in Hackney's local politics, where the Green Party is mounting a serious challenge to Labour's dominance through a campaign that prioritizes international issues alongside traditional local concerns.
