New Green Party group formed in Swindon after three councillors defect from Labour

Party Leader Zack Polanski visits Swindon to welcome first ever Green group on Swindon Borough Council.

Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, visited Swindon today to welcome the move of three sitting councillors from the Labour Party to the Greens.

As the Party’s first borough councillors, they will form the first ever Green Party Group on the council, creating a new voice of opposition to the Labour administration.

The Green Party has seen its membership and support soaring in recent months, following a positive leadership process in which Zack Polanski was elected leader. He has driven supporters to be bold in challenging social and economic inequalities, alongside environmental concerns.

Cllr Ian Edwards crossed the chamber from Labour to become the first Green Swindon councillor on Friday, and is joined by Cllr Tom Butcher and Cllr Repi Begum today, both former Labour councillors.

Membership of the Green Party in Swindon has doubled since the beginning of the year, increased by more than 60% since Polanski was elected in September, and continues to rise at a record pace.

According to a local party spokesperson: “More and more people are feeling let-down by the old parties, and unhappy with the politics of fear and division of the far right. The Green Party are offering a straight-talking message of hope that people like.”

The two new councillors, Cllr Tom Butcher and Cllr Repi Begum, issued a joint statement to explain their decisions to move to the Green Party,

“It’s a really exciting time to be joining the Green Party and forming a Green group of councillors on Swindon Borough Council. When we have been elected on our values and beliefs in a just and equal world, it’s important that we can represent that authentically through a party which best aligns with those values. Whilst our values and beliefs have not changed, unfortunately Labour has moved away from those values. Under Zack Polanski we recognise the bold politics of the Green Party as being most aligned with what we stand for.”

Zack Polanski welcomed the new Green councillors, saying, "I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Ian, Tom, and Repi to the Green Party, creating the first-ever Green group on Swindon Borough Council. Swindon is a political bellwether, and what we’re seeing here is happening across the country: people who believed in Labour’s promise of change now see a party that’s abandoned its principles. They’re turning to the Greens because we’re the only party offering real hope, real courage, and real solutions for the future."

The move is significant nationally and will cause ripples in Westminster as the two Swindon constituencies are seen as bellwethers, meaning that a shift toward the Green Party here could reflect bigger changes to come across the country.