The Green Party in Lambeth says it has a plan for “hope, community and progress” after what it describes as “decades of austerity and neglect by Labour, Tories and Lib Dems”.

For the first time, the party is preparing for government in the borough. Various polling models show it within touching distance of displacing Labour on 7 May.

The party is launching its 28-page manifesto on 15 April to set out a vision for Lambeth. At its heart is a plan to resist austerity. Lambeth Greens are joining with Hackney in pledging to host a nation-wide summit of anti-cuts councils. This aims to build a campaign to stop and reverse austerity, putting them on a collision course with the Starmer government.

The manifesto’s introduction reads:

Greens are proud to have stood alongside workers and communities against austerity, and for an alternative: publicly owned services that work, funded by taxing the super rich and big business.

Where Labour has cut, we will invest. Where Labour has scrapped our spaces to meet, connect and organise, we will support and value them. Where Labour governed down to you, we will govern alongside you.

Other key sections include housing, where the Greens are promising to prioritise repairs and renovations to maintain council stock. They also want to pause estate demolitions and build council homes directly rather than relying entirely on private developers. And they want to tackle the temporary accommodation and homelessness crisis, and empower and protect renters.

They would enact major changes to how services are run, ending the “outsourcing rip off”, tackling the cost of living, and looking to overhaul the consultations and complaints process. Under Labour, Lambeth has become the second most complained about council in the country.

Green plans for Lambeth

The Greens would:

• Bring back the Lambeth Country Show.
• Look to restore lost nightlife and venues.
• Protect public space, with community skips to tackle fly-tipping.
• Install public art and promote beautification and tree planting on an unprecedented scale.

By encouraging creative and green industries and retrofitting homes, they hope to create skilled jobs for local people.

Lambeth residents can expect democratisation in how their council is run, reversing Labour’s ban on discussing topics such as the genocide in Gaza, and introducing community budget setting. And the Greens would run a campaign to encourage all workers and renters to join trade unions and tenants’ unions.

The manifesto also sets out the Greens’ determination to “oppose Labour and Reform’s racist anti-migrant policies”, oppose immigration raids and stop and search police tactics, and embed anti-racist practice into the council.

The Greens’ membership has ballooned in recent months, and Lambeth now has just under 3,000 members.

Scott Ainslie, leader of Lambeth Green Group and candidate for Streatham St Leonards, said:

After decades of austerity and neglect from the Tories, Lib Dems and now Labour, this manifesto sets out a plan for hope, community and progress. For the first ever time, the Green Party is preparing to run Lambeth, and we are ready.

So much harm has been imposed on residents by the decisions Lambeth Labour have taken, especially with regards to housing and the services we all rely on. It’s time to start a new chapter for Lambeth.

Michael Chessum, candidate in Brixton Acre Lane, said:

For years, Lambeth’s local services have been hammered by cuts – and that is continuing under a Labour government. Lambeth Greens will put ourselves at the heart of a nationwide fight to stop and reverse austerity – we’ll organise, and build alliances with unions and grassroots campaigns.

We understand that the power to change the world lies with all of us – and we will unleash the power, creativity and solidarity of our community. This will be a knife-edge election, and we are fighting to win it.

Ciara Alleyne, candidate for Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction, said:

Lambeth is one of the most diverse and vibrant places in the world. We deserve leadership committed to standing up for our communities and tackling the cost of living crisis.

The Greens will always stand on the side of residents, protecting public space from creeping privatisation and the steady decline of our local environment. For too long, young people have been shut out of decisions and opportunities, it’s time we had a real say in shaping our futures.

Under Green leadership, Lambeth will become a trailblazer of environmental protection, and we will incorporate action on the climate emergency into every aspect of the council’s work. The future of our borough demands action now, only the Greens are prepared to deliver this.

Sabine Mairey, candidate for Clapham Town, said:

Everyone has the right to a decent, affordable home. We will end Lambeth Labour’s failed model of ‘regeneration’ which has delivered nothing but insecurity and pain for communities, while the number of social homes has gone down.

We will back and empower tenants and renters. The homelessness crisis is first and foremost a blight on people’s lives, but it is also a major financial crisis for the council, and we will push for a solution that can drive down costs and give people dignity.

Elizabeth Fraser, candidate in Knights Hill, said:

I am proud to be standing for a party that knows where it stands. Starmer’s Labour is going along with Reform’s nasty, racist agenda – but the Greens never will. On migrants’ rights, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ equality, and justice in Palestine and across the world, we know which side we’re on.

The people responsible for driving down living standards aren’t immigrants, they’re billionaires. A vote for the Greens on 7 May is a vote to stop the slide to the far right and stand up for equality and decency.

Featured image via Lambeth Green Party

By The Canary

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