As Local Election results come in across the Region, there have been a number of good results for local residents as more Green Councillors are elected.

We can celebrate wins in Durham, Northumberland and South Tyneside. These wins mean that we have doubled our number of Elected Representatives in the Region.

We can also celebrate some great results, even where we did not win a seat, as we increased vote share and beat other Parties to become the nearest challenger to the incumbent.

Full details can be found via your Local Party, and selected results are shown below.

Thank you to everyone who has supported campaigns across our Region – and also to everyone who voted Green.

Darlington

Darlington Green Party contested Hummersknott Ward at a by-election, delayed from 2020.

Thomas Robinson received 42% of the vote, meaning a jump from fourth to second and cutting the Conservative majority to just 162 votes.

Durham County

Jonathan Elmer was elected in Brandon as the first choice candidate, taking 21.9% of the vote. Priscilla Elmer almost joined Jonathan, missing out to Labour by just 114 votes.

However, both Jonathan and Priscilla were elected to Brandon Parish Council.

Rupert Friederichsen was elected to City of Durham Parish Council.

Gateshead

Diane Cadman increased the Green vote share to 31.8% in Crawcrook and Greenside, finishing comfortably ahead of the Conservatives. Diane continues to chase down the Labour incumbent, who has seen their majority cut to just 321.

Hartlepool

The National focus has been on the By-Election, where Rachel Featherstone had a good result, finishing behind Conservatives and Labour, but ahead of 10 other candidates, including the Liberal Democrats and the Northern Independence Party.

Newcastle

Tay Pitman took second place in West Fenham, ahead of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Newcastle Independents – doubling the vote share despite fierce competition from the other parties.

Northumberland

Northumberland County Council has its first Green County Councillors. Nick Morphet (Humshaugh) and Martin Swinbank (Alnwick) comfortably won their seats.

Michelle Brannigan had a good night in Ashington, beating the Conservatives to take second place for County Councillor, and cutting the Labour majority from 550 to just 287. At local level, Michelle was elected to Town Council.

In Morpeth, Elaine Skinner and Elisa Lawson were elected to the Town Council.

North Tyneside

Alan Steele took 28% of the vote in Whitley Bay, finishing second and comfortably beating the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Penny Remfry doubled the Mayoral vote share, finishing third (but with a very strong second preference vote share).

South Tyneside

David Francis has been joined by two more Greens on South Tyneside Council.

Sue Stonehouse joins David representing Beacon & Bents Ward, taking 46.5% of the vote.

Peter Bristow also joins the growing ranks of Green Councillors, winning 51.2% of the vote in West Park.

Sunderland

Sunderland Greens worked hard, and had some good results increasing overall vote share by 1.2%, but were faced with a strange mix of results – possibly explained by a City still split over the Brexit issue.

The post Green Party win across North East appeared first on North East England Green Party.

The Green Party has selected Rachel Featherstone as their candidate for the forthcoming Hartlepool by-election.

Featherstone, who has lived in the north east her entire life, will stand for the seat on the promise to fight for a Green recovery for the people of Hartlepool after she was selected by the Stockton & Hartlepool Green Party last night [Thursday 1 April].

Featherstone, who works on Teesside as a university lecturer, and is mother of three children, has said she is adamant that Hartlepool deserves better representation.

She said:

“I’m very proud to have been selected as the Green Party candidate for Hartlepool. Every green vote will be a message that things can’t go on the way they have been.

“It is frankly outrageous how Labour and the Conservatives have approached this by-election as a game, to see who can get one over the other. This town is not just a brick in the ‘red wall’ to be taken for granted, and it isn’t just a scalp to be won by the Tories, with their inept government.

“Hartlepool needs the kind of transformation that a Green recovery could bring. But, while other parties claim to be committed to such a recovery, real Green policies need real Green politicians with a clear vision – not just warm words and window-dressing.”

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said:

“I’m delighted that Rachel is the Green Party candidate in Hartlepool, leading the way in the fight for social and environmental justice. After an incredibly tough year for us all, this by-election is an important opportunity for the people of Hartlepool to show that they don’t want things to just go back to how they were before the pandemic.

“While Labour and the Conservatives still fail to grasp the need for real change, the Green Party has a clear plan for a recovery from coronavirus which will see millions of Green jobs spread throughout communities across the country.

“From supporting trade unions’ call for a 15% pay rise for nurses to pushing for retrofitting schemes to create warm homes for all and Green jobs for the region, it is Greens on the ground, working with local communities and doing what is necessary to make all of our towns and cities cleaner, healthier places to live and prosper.”

Photo credit: Dawn Furness

Contacts

CANDIDATE: Rachel Featherstone – rachel.featherstone@greenparty.org.uk / 07525 326487 

REGIONAL GREEN PARTY – Tom Stewart – coordinator@northeast.greenparty.org.uk / 07968 720217

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: press@greenparty.org.uk / 0203 691 9401

The post Green Party selects Rachel Featherstone as Hartlepool by-election candidate appeared first on North East England Green Party.