Green Party London Assembly member Sian Berry steps aside for mayoral candidate Zoe Garbett

A Green Party London Assembly member has stepped aside to make way for the party’s mayoral candidate.

Former party co-leader Siân Berry was re-elected as an assembly member on Thursday as a name on the party’s London-wide list. But she is also the Green parliamentary candidate in Brighton in the election after Caroline Lucas MP announced she would not stand again.

London mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett will instead join Zack Polanski AM and Caroline Russell AM for the new assembly term.

London Elects confirmed that when a London-wide assembly member resigns, the next name on the party’s list becomes a member.

The party’s three assembly members will serve alongside 11 Labour members, eight Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats and one representative from Reform UK.

Ms Garbett is a Hackney councillor and previously worked in the NHS. She said: “I am excited to join the assembly and get to work for Londoners. There is so much to do to improve the quality of our lives in London, stand up for people on the margins and hold the mayor to account.”

Ms Garbett came fourth in the London mayoral race, 70 votes behind the Liberal Democrats’ Rob Blackie.

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Ms Berry served on the assembly from 2016, is a former co-leader of the Green Party and is a former London mayoral candidate.

She said: “Zoë has shown how much of a difference she will make in City Hall, listening to Londoners and bringing their voices into the political debate. That’s why she needs to be in this job as soon as possible.

“She is already a brilliant councillor and will be a brilliant assembly member for Londoners.”