Ex-Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen has given her support to the Green Party in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg. Recognising that the majority of people wish to live in a society that cares for each other, Shaheen says people are choosing the Greens because it is where they can find real change.
The May 7 local elections are turning into a stark, polarised battle at the ballot between Reform UK and the Green Party. Polls regularly swing back and forth, signalling a sharp divide in the electorate.
As a result, voters face a stark choice between two fundamentally different visions for the country: one rooted in hope and solidarity, the other in division that pulls communities further apart.
.@faizashaheen: “I support the Greens… everyone sees the rot in the political system, typified by Mandelson… no politician is delivering for people… lots of people are turning to the Greens… we want to live in a country where we care for each other, where change does happen” pic.twitter.com/ECXSwZKkOC
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) April 19, 2026
Faiza Shaheen: “everyone sees the rot in the political system”
Faiza Shaheen quit the Labour Party in 2024 after being deselected as a candidate in the General Election for Chingford and Woodford Green. At the time, Shaheen described the decision as “cruel and devastating” stating that she was being punished for detailing her experiences of Islamophobia within Labour. Going further, she confronted the blatant hierarchy of racism at play, which also worked to prevent her speaking out against the genocide on Gaza.
Subsequently, Shaheen stood as an independent and came close behind the chosen Labour candidate. Nevertheless, Tory and austerity champion Iain Duncan Smith won the election following the clear split in the progressive vote.
Since then, Shaheen now appears to be insupport of the Green Party. It is worth noting that the Greens have been much more forthcoming in their solidarity with Palestinians and their public condemnations of the genocide on Gaza. This is likely to add to Shaheen’s support for the party, however she goes further and argues the party will change the way that our politics is done.
Her interview response in full:
Laura Kuenssberg: These elections, Faiza, are going to be absolutely enormous. Why do you think people like you used to be in the Labour Party and other people are turning away, many of them to the Greens. And I know you’re interested perhaps in the Greens these days?
Faiza Shaheen: No, I, you know, I support the Greens. But I, yeah, absolutely. And it’s because everyone sees this political rot in the system, typified by Mandelson, but not just that. And also that… Yeah, no politician is delivering for people, people’s pockets and material well-being. They’ve forgotten that in all this political drama.
And so absolutely, lots of people are turning to the Greens and are also really fed up with the kind of divisive politics that we heard just there from Robert Jenrick. And we want to live in a country where people are cared for, where we care for each other, compassionate type of politics, where actually change does happen.
Green Party is closing the gap
Indeed, Shaheen is right – the choice really is between compassionate politics or politics of division which seeks to hurt the most vulnerable in our communities. Leaders might not see it in their Westminster bubbles, but people are overwhelmingly turning to hope. The Green Party is massively increasing its membership numbers as it closes the gap with Reform UK, with latest reports of 216,000 members.
One X user commented on Shaheen’s response, stating:
@faizashaheen
is correct & embodies everything the @UKLabour party SHOULD stand for (and did do under Corbyn). But Liar Starmer transformed Labour into a Red Tory party with extra racism.#VoteGreen for progressive policies for the 99%.
Join @TheGreenPartyHope is here now
Others have highlighted that Shaheen’s public choice to lend support to the Greens just further underscores the absolute failure of Your Party:
Your Party is just absolutely dead in the water if even Fazia Shaheen has joined the Green Party https://t.co/rZGuJRt5Bx
— liv
(@liveraldemocrat) April 19, 2026
It is time to choose – hope or hate.
Shaheen’s public commitment to support the Green Party, who she once competed against, is indicative of the choice many are facing across the country. Many have had concerns about the Green’s broad church membership and the future potential for a repeat of Corbyn’s Labour in 2019. Those concerns appear to be waning.
On the other hand, a clearer priority now appears to override those doubts: keep the far right out of local government. Your Party’s failure to deliver on its promises only makes that choice easier. After nearly two decades of austerity and underinvestment, communities are already under strain – voters deserve more than words; they deserve actual results.
After all, a Reform UK–run council would serve no one but its wealthy backers, as its record in Kent has already shown. As Shaheen argues, only a vote for the Greens can deliver real change rooted in compassion.
Featured image via the Canary
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