The Green Party has announced its candidates for the upcoming local elections, highlighting a surge in support for the party both locally and across the country.
The Greens say they are benefiting from their strongest ever national polling, with recent surveys showing unprecedented levels of support.
A recent Lord Ashcroft opinion poll even placed the Green Party in joint first place nationally for the first time in its history.
The Greens have argued that their growing momentum was reinforced by a recent parliamentary by-election victory in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester, where the Green Party won the seat, beating Reform into second place and pushing Labour into third.
The party says this result shows that voters are increasingly turning to the Greens as the main alternative.
Locally, the Green Party is already the second largest group on Reading Borough Council and will be the main challenger to Labour in many wards.
They say that this election is likely to see closely fought contests across Reading, with a real chance to elect more Green councillors.
With candidates like local Battle Ward campaigner, Zoe Mann, local A&E doctor David Clarke in Thames Ward and Hannah Conibear in Emmer Green Ward, the party has selected a hugely strong team with a wide range of experience, including people working in healthcare, education, finance, engineering and community support.
Many have been active in campaigning on local issues such as affordable housing, cleaner streets and better public services.
The party has argued that electing more councillors will strengthen their ability to hold the council to account and push for practical improvements, from cutting energy bills through home insulation to improving transport and protecting green spaces.
They also point to projections such as the Electoral Calculus suggesting that Reading Central constituency could be won by the Greens at the next general election, arguing that electing councillors will help build towards that goal.
Councillor Kathryn McCann (Green, Redlands), spokesperson for the main opposition party on the council, said: “We are seeing something really special happening. Support for the Green Party is higher than ever before, and people are turning to us because they want real change.
“The recent by-election win and national polling show that Greens can win and are winning. That momentum is being felt here in Reading, too, where more and more residents are backing us.
“This election is a clear choice between Green and Labour. With more Green councillors, we can push for truly affordable housing, better public services and a cleaner environment.
“Vote Green on Thursday, May 7, to elect hard-working Greens and send a message to Labour locally and nationally that you want better.”
Cllr McCann is standing for re-election.
