First Ever Green Mayor Elected In Labour London Stronghold

The Green Party has just had its first ever mayor elected in one of Labour’s London stronghold seats.

Zoe Garbett, who previously ran to be London mayor, has just been elected as the mayor of Hackney.

In her victory speech, she said: “People have made it clear they are desperate for an alternative to this failing Labour government.

“It’s not old politics parties versus new parties. This is about a system of fear versus a movement of hope.”

She added: “Today we start a fightback.

“In this election, over and over, people kept telling me that they felt let down. 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.”

Garbett continued: “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.

“Countless people, movements, organisations, parties and communities have come together to make this change possible.”

Garbett won by a substantial margin, securing 35,720 votes compared to Labour’s 26,865.

The Tories won 6,345, Reform UK 4,013 and the Liberal Democrats 2,731.

The Hackney mayoralty was one of the Greens’ priorities in the local elections.

The left-wing party is hoping to take a swathe of other London seats as it continues to take support from Labour.

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