The Green Party has delivered record results in the 2021 Local Elections, with new seats representing two-thirds of the seats we won. People all over the country care about investing their votes, money and time in a #GreenFuture, because the world has changed, and Green politics is what is needed. No one should have to choose between caring about the climate or the economy. That’s why the Green Party’s vision is all-encompassing, it’s about making life better for people and the planet at the same time.
Green politics is the politics for now. These huge swings that we are seeing are no accident: they are the result of tireless work and campaigning by our members, supporters, candidates and councillors who are making a change in their communities to create a green recovery for all. These results show clearly that people want an alternative to the broken and fragmenting two-party system which has dominated for so long and caused so much mistrust and damage.
In the Local Elections, Greens won 157 seats (of which, 99 were gains). Wales also received a record result in the Senedd election, and in London, Greens elected a third Green Assembly member for the first time in 21 years.
Watch our post-election analysis of 2021 to get an inside look at the trends and for a full analysis of the figures.
The event was hosted by Councillor and Assembly Member Caroline Russell, in conversation with Open Democracy’s Adam Ramsay, Green Party Head of Elections Chris Williams, Deputy Leader Amelia Womack and Political Commentator, Professor Roger Awan-Scully.
An Overview of Green Results 2021 Local Elections
- Greens in first place across Bristol West and Sheffield Central constituencies
- Gained representation on 18 councils, bringing the total tally of councils with Green representation to 141
- Gained 99 seats – now 445 councillors across England and Wales
- Won 24 seats on Bristol City Council – now joint largest party with Labour.
Key achievements for The Green Party of England and Wales in 2021 Local Elections
BRISTOL MAYOR: The Green Party has recorded its first-ever second place result in an election for a directly-elected mayor. Bristol Mayor candidate Sandy Hore-Ruthven went toe-to-toe with the current Labour mayor Marvin Rees, who both reached the second round of counting.
LONDON MAYOR: Record breaking results in London, with Sian Berry coming third in the London Mayor election, increasing her vote share in the process. Meanwhile, we received 12% of the vote on the list ballot, meaning Zack Polanski has become our third London Assembly member, joining Sian and Caroline Russell
SHEFFIELD: Going up from 8 to 13 councillors in Sheffield and holding the balance of power
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL: Nine Green councillors on Suffolk County Council makes us the likely Official Opposition in Suffolk. This is our biggest ever Green group on a county council.
GREENS VS LIB DEMS: Greens have beaten the Lib Dems in all regional mayor races and nearly all city mayor and PCC races. Greens also had more votes than the Lib Dems in Wales on the regional List ballots and came ahead of the Lib Dems in London, Scotland (on seats) and Bristol mayor results.
BURNLEY: Five Green Councillors in Burnley, a constituency seen as a “Red Wall” icon
COUNCILS WITH GREENS FOR THE FIRST TIME: Stockport (Gary Lawson), Northumberland County Council (Martin Swinbank and Nick Morphet), Hastings (Julia Hilton), Derbyshire County Council (Gez Kinsella), East Sussex County Council (Georgia Taylor), County Durham Unitary (Jonathan Elmer), Halton Borough Council, Northamptonshire North Unitary (Dez Dell, Emily Fedorowycz, Sarah Tubbs), Devon County Council.
COUNCILS WE REGAINED REPRESENTATION: Manchester City Council – after 13 years, Norfolk County Council, Cornwall Unitary – for the first time since 2017
MAYORAL RACES: Greens have beaten the Lib Dems in all regional mayor races and nearly all city mayor and PCC races. Bristol City – Sandy achieved an incredible second place. Greater Manchester – Melanie Horrocks third on 4.4% (Andy Burnham elected on 67%). Liverpool City Region – Gary Cargill third on 11.8%. West of England – Jerome Thoma+s third on 21.7%. West Midlands – Steve Caudwell third on 5.7%. West Yorkshire – Andrew Cooper expected Sunday pm. Doncaster – Warren Draper sixth on 5.3%. Liverpool – Tom Crone fifth on 8.7%. North Tyneside – Penny Remfry third on 6.9%. Salford – Wendy Olson third on 8.8%. London – Sian Berry third.
PCC: Avon and Somerset – Cleo Lake third on 16%, Norfolk – Martin Schmeirer fourth on 10.2%, Suffolk – Andy Patmore third on 14%, Dorset – Clare Seymour third 14.1%
Other noteworthy results: Green gain on Cornwall County Council after a five-year absence. Total of Nine Green councillors on Suffolk County Council makes us the Official Opposition in Suffolk – the only county council where we’re in opposition. Total of Thirteen Green councillors on Sheffield City Council, which is No Overall Control. Total of Five Green Councillors in Burnley, a constituency seen as a “Red Wall” icon. We have already gained our first seats on Stockport and Northumberland, with huge gains from both Labour and the Conservatives. While we’re proud to show leadership on environment, equality and Green recovery were also willing to trust people with more power – not just listening but setting up citizens’ assemblies to give them real power major story in Sheffield City Council, which has now been pushed into No Overall Control. We now have 13 councillors, and could tip the balance of power for either Labour or the Lib Dems. Greens have knocked out the Labour Leader of Sheffield City Council, gaining our first councillor in Hillsborough ward. We have also gained councillors in Gleadless Valley ward, Nether Edge and Sharrow ward, Walkley ward. All are gains from Labour-held seats, going from 8 councillors to 13
TOTAL GREEN GAINS
145 council seats of which 99 are gains
1 in Peterborough (from Con – pushes Con Council into NOC)
2 in Cambridge City (from Lab)
1 in Colchester (from LD)
1 in Essex (from Con)
1 in Hertfordshire County (from Con)
3 in Norfolk County Council (from Lab)
1 in Norwich City (from Indy)
6 in Suffolk CC (4 Con, 1 Lab, 1 LD)
1 in Derbyshire County (from Con)
3 in Northamptonshire North Unitary (3x gain from Con)
1 on County Durham Unitary (from Lab)
2 seats in Northumberland County (from Con)
2 seats in South Tyneside (from Lab)
1 in Cumbria County Council (from Con)
1 in Manchester City Council (from Lab)
1 in Stockport (from Lab)
3 in Burnley (2 from Lab, 1 Con)
1 on Halton Borough COuncil (from Con)
1 on Lancashire County Council (Burnley Central West division) (from Lab)
2 in Knowsley (from Lab)
1 in Saint Helens (from Lab)
3 on Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (from Lab)
1 on Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority (from Lab)
1 in Reading (from Lab)
1 in Hastings (from Lab)
4 on East Sussex County Council (1x Lab, 1x Con, 1 LibDem, 1 Indy)
2 on Isle of Wight Unitary (From Con)
4 in Kent CC (from Con)
1 in Thanet District (from Lab)
1 on Oxford City (from Lab)
2 on Oxfordshire County Council (from Con)
1 on Reigate and Banstead BC (from Con)
1 on Surrey County Council (from Con)
1 on West Sussex County (from Con)
1 on Adur District (from Con)
13 on Bristol City Council (12 Lab, 1 LD)
1 on Cornwall Unitary Authority (from Con)
1 on Exeter City (from Lab)
1 on Devon County (from Con)
6 in Stroud District (5 x Con, 1 x Lab)
3 on Gloucestershire County Council (from Con)
3 in Shropshire Unitary (from Con)
2 on Warwickshire County (1x Con, 1x Lab)
1 on Solihull MBC (from Lab)
1 in Worcester City (from Lab)
1 in Worcestershire (from Con)
5 seats in Sheffield City Council (from Lab)
1 in Bradford (from Lab)
Runnymede Borough – LOSS to CON of Addlestone North – a surprise win from CON in 2019 has returned.
Examples of large swings:
Bebington (Wirral): Grn 59.8% (+55.6%)
West Park (South Tyneside) – Grn: 51.2% (+43.9)
Reddish South (Stockport): Grn: 48.1% (+41.0)
Beacon and Bents (South Tyneside): Grn: 46.5% (+34.2)
Brandon (County Durham): Grn 39.7% (+39.7)
Humshaugh (Northumberland): Grn: 52.2% (+29.9)
Held:
1 HOLD in Epping Forest DC
3 HOLD in Suffolk
1 HOLD in Trafford MBC
1 HOLD in Lancaster City
1 HOLD Lancashire
1 HOLD in Liverpool
1 HOLD in Reading BC
3 HOLD in Reigate and Banstead BC
1 HOLD on Surrey CC
1 HOLD on Devon County Council
3 HOLD in Stroud
1 HOLD on Gloucestershire CC
1 HOLD in Nuneaton & Bedworth
1 HOLD in Warwickshire CC
2 HOLD in Worcester City
4 HOLD on Solihull MBC
2 HOLD in Worcestershire
1 HOLD in Sheffield
1 HOLD Bradford
1 HOLD Leeds
1 HOLD Kirklees
1 HOLD SHROPSHIRE
2 HOLD Oxford City
2 HOLD Norwich City
1 HOLD Buckinghamshire Unitary
Loss
Green LOSS on Essex CC – to Con
Green LOSS in Sunderland – Green seat vacated by resignation, lost to Con
Green LOSS in Kent CC – to Con
2 xGreen LOSS on Gloucestershire CC (inc Stroud Central – Molly Scott Cato) – to Lab
Green LOSS in Warwickshire CC (Nuneaton Weddington) – to Con
Green LOSS in Runnymede Borough – to CON
