Green Party London Assembly Members have staunchly defended their former colleague, Sian Berry, who quit three days into her new term last week. She was first elected to the body in 2016 and the former mayoral candidate was returned when votes were counted on Saturday, May 4.
But, on Tuesday, May 7, Ms Berry made way for Dalston councillor Zoë Garbett, the Green pick for mayor this year. She has been criticised for the move, with some pointing out that she is a parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the next election.
Now, when speaking to media at City Hall earlier today (Monday, May 13), the London Assembly’s Green group has denied that this was planned. When asked, Caroline Russell AM replied: “No. Well, you know, it was the plan for her to get re-elected.”
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Zoë Garbett AM, who has now stepped into the position vacated by Ms Berry, added: “Sian made it incredibly clear that she would not be an Assembly Member when she gets elected in Brighton. And, you know, we wanted to increase and grow our support and get more Assembly Members here.
“But, I think, you know, Sian’s made it very clear that stepping aside was to allow me to just work as hard as possible for the Green group here.”
AM Russell interjected: “And from the beginning of the term.” On the backlash to Ms Berry’s decision, AM Garbett said: “I think a lot of it shows, well, not to down talk to the electorate, but you know, it’s a confusing election that you vote for the party.
“You always say that people didn’t know that you were on the ballot, and were asking where they find your name. So, I think people don’t know that that’s what they’re voting for – they’re voting for the party and they put their trust in the party to put the best people forward, which is what we’ve done.”
Zack Polanski AM said that criticism proved that the Greens were a ‘bigger target’ and now ‘in the Premiership’.
Asked if the group would have criticised a Labour, Liberal Democrat or Tory London Assembly Member had they done the same, AM Russell again replied: “No.”
AM Garbett said: “Because it’s happened before, hasn’t it?” AM Russell added: “And none of the Assembly Members have screamed blue murder at it.”
‘It’s how this building is set up to work’
She then mentioned that former Assembly Members, Kemi Badenoch (Tory), David Lammy and Florence Eshalomi (Labour) also quit. “It’s how this building is set up to work,” AM Russell added, “and it’s resilient.”
The representative, who will Chair the Assembly’s Transport Committee, added that the mechanism was ‘transparent and democratic’.
AM Garbett then revealed that AM Berry tried to step down ‘on the night’ for a ‘quick switch over’ that ‘was not a thing’, but this was not legally possible. This is why it took three days, she added, as the fact that the election count was followed by a Sunday and then a Bank Holiday Monday meant Tuesday was the first possible day that it could be done.
AM Garbett said that she is ‘disappointed that this has become to story’. AM Polanski then had a dig at a recently ennobled Tory Member, saying: “And maybe Shaun Bailey will take the hint.”
Overall, AM Russell said, Ms Berry did a ‘hugely generous and noble thing’ because she has ‘left herself without the safety net of a job’ if she weren’t elected as an MP in Brighton.
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