Fury as Green Party member quits London Assembly just three days after being elected

The former leader of the Green Party has sparked fury after quitting the London Assembly just three days after being re-elected to her seat.

Sian Berry, who is standing to become an MP for the Greens in Brighton this year, passed the role to the party’s mayoral candidate, Zoe Garbett, instead.

It means Ms Garbett, who received 145,114 votes in the London mayoral contest, will take Ms Berry’s place in the London Assembly without the need for a by-election.

Ms Garbett said she was “excited to join the Assembly and get to work for Londoners”, adding that there is “so much to do”.

And Ms Berry said her colleague had “shown how much of a difference she will make in City Hall”.

“That’s why she needs to be in this job as soon as possible,” Ms Berry, who was Green Party co-leader from 2018 to 2021, added.

But critics were outraged at Ms Berry’s decision to quit just three days after winning her seat.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting described the move as “very poor”. And senior Labour MP Jess Phillips said it was “a terrible thing to do”.

fury as green party member quits london assembly just three days after being elected

Sian Berry is standing to succeed Caroline Lucas in Brighton Pavilion (PA Archive)

Labour MP Kevin Brennan added: “The practical embodiment of political cynicism and treating voters with utter contempt from Green Party politician Sian Berry I hope electors in Brighton Pavillion have taken note.”

Ms Berry is trying to keep Brighton Pavilion Green when Caroline Lucas steps down at the coming general election.

Her main challenger is Labour candidate Tom Gray, a musician and activist who won the Mercury Prize with the band Gomez in 1998.

Mr Gray has not directly commented on her resignation yet, but reposted a slew of criticism of Ms Berry on social media site X.

Ms Lucas said last year she would be standing down after being elected to parliament in 2010.

fury as green party member quits london assembly just three days after being elected

Sian Berry was Green Party co-leader from 2018 to 2021 (Getty)

Ms Lucas said: “It has been the honour of my life to represent the people of Brighton Pavilion in Parliament for the past 13 years, and to see my majority increase at each of the past four elections.

“I am delighted that Sian has been elected by party members.

“There couldn’t be a more passionate and committed person to pick up the baton and continue this city’s tradition of doing politics differently, and standing up for what matters.

“I am certain that Sian will be a powerful Green voice in Parliament, holding to account whichever party forms the next government, and championing the concerns of constituents.”

She added: “This country desperately needs more Green MPs.

“This is a critical decade for tackling the climate and nature emergencies, supporting people through a cost of living scandal, and campaigning for social justice and human rights.

“I can’t wait to see what Sian will do.”

Ms Berry has been a member of the London Assembly since 2016 and has also served as a councillor for the Highgate ward of Camden Borough Council since 2014.

From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.

OTHER NEWS

14 minutes ago

First baby born on the NHS reveals she is now going private due to the health service's sorry state, which forced her own son to rip his teeth out with pliers because he couldn't find a dentist

14 minutes ago

Revealed: How British war hero Field Marshal Montgomery almost gave away the date of the D-Day landings in a speech meant to rally troops - as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the historic invasion

15 minutes ago

Video: Who is Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi now missing after his helicopter crash landed in fog? The son of a cleric who rose to become the 'Butcher of Tehran' for his role in condemning thousands of political dissidents to their deaths

16 minutes ago

Lower Fifth Avenue retail scene thriving after several high-profile leases, expansions

16 minutes ago

Trump attorney says Cohen ‘completely collapsed’ on stand in hush money case

16 minutes ago

Banks failing borrowers experiencing financial hardship

16 minutes ago

Rising rent? Mega mortgage? Cozzielivs? 'Hardship' help hard to get, as banks fail to help those who need it

16 minutes ago

Skip Bayless Plays Blame Game After Thunder's Wild Loss To Mavs

16 minutes ago

Trump vows to ‘roll back’ Biden gun rules amid record mass shooting deaths

17 minutes ago

2024 PGA Championship Leaderboard: Live final-day updates for golf leaders Sunday

17 minutes ago

Helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi crashes, search under way

17 minutes ago

Trump VP hopeful Marco Rubio refuses to commit to accepting 2024 election results

17 minutes ago

At least 11 people killed as Russian attacks intensify in northeastern Ukraine

17 minutes ago

‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter One' Review: Kevin Costner Gets Thrown From His Horse in Muddled Western Epic

17 minutes ago

Twitter Can't Get Enough of the Steamy Scenes in "Bridgerton" Season Three Part One

17 minutes ago

Brighton 0-2 Manchester United: Diogo Dalot and Hojlund goals can't prevent worst Premier League finish

17 minutes ago

Manchester City beat West Ham to win fourth Premier League title in a row

17 minutes ago

'Packed' Friday night: Northern Wisconsin HS football games clash with Green Bay's NFL opener

17 minutes ago

Sharon Stone reveals paedophile grandfather was so demented he’d have had sex ‘with a chair leg’

17 minutes ago

Sean Combs’ media company Revolt ‘saddened and disturbed’ by his assault video

17 minutes ago

Cynthia Nixon says ‘Sex and the City’ cast were flooded with hate over show

19 minutes ago

Tow truck driver attacked while attempting to tow vehicle

20 minutes ago

Oleksandr Usyk Is New Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Beats Tyson Fury In Split Decision

23 minutes ago

Soccer-Luton’s relegation confirmed as Fulham win away

23 minutes ago

Corey Heim once again proves he's the hottest prospect in NASCAR

23 minutes ago

Mikel Arteta proud of Arsenal despite final day disappointment in title race

23 minutes ago

SA’s silver treasure on ‘Indian Titanic’ coming home

23 minutes ago

I found vintage fashion bargains in this underrated French city — and flights are just £50

23 minutes ago

10 Surprising Facts About Jackie Kennedy On Her Anniversary

23 minutes ago

Jürgen Klopp made Liverpool elite again after years of faded grandeur

23 minutes ago

Soccer-Chelsea earn 2-1 win over Bournemouth to clinch European place

23 minutes ago

'Don't be sad,' Arteta tells fans

23 minutes ago

Ukraine’s Navy says it destroyed Russian sea minesweeper Kovrovets overnight

23 minutes ago

£95m double Man Utd exit accelerates as Euro giant eyes Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho coup

23 minutes ago

First images emerge of Scottie Scheffler in jail as other inmates reveal how world No. 1 golfer behaved during his shock visit to the cells

23 minutes ago

Arsenal star Kai Havertz left furious at 'unfair' Man City title win

23 minutes ago

‘His music gave me hope’ – Springsteen fans travel from across the globe to hear ‘soundtrack to our lives’

23 minutes ago

‘Completely unacceptable’: Environmental offsets scheme riddled with breaches

23 minutes ago

Meet some of the New Yorkers waiting overnight to get a seat at the Trump trial

23 minutes ago

What happens if an Iranian President dies in office?

Kênh khám phá trải nghiệm của giới trẻ, thế giới du lịch