Two of the Green Party’s candidates in the May 2 elections were previously Labour activists. We find out why they made the switch and why they are proud to be standing as Greens this spring.
Helen Fenton, candidate for Chalford
Helen was elected in 2021 as a Labour councillor, and became part of the Green/Labour/Liberal Democrat alliance that had successfully run Stroud District Council for 10 years. She strongly believed the alliance worked well for the people of the district.
“We did something very special,” she says. “Councillors of all three parties put the frustrating Westminster politics aside and worked together for the benefit of our communities.”
But just over a year later, the national Labour Party ordered its councillors to stop working with the Greens – or face disciplinary action. This interference – and Labour’s decision to block Cllr Doina Cornell from standing as a parliamentary candidate – sparked a series of resignations by Labour councillors, including Helen.
The ex-Labour group continued on the council as Independents and the Labour Party were left with only four seats, handing leadership of the council to the Greens and ending Labour’s position as a political force in Stroud.
Helen says: “When Keir Starmer’s Labour Party started interfering in Stroud, it became clear to me that the Labour Party didn’t care about our communities, or that stopping Labour councillors from working with the Greens was likely to hand over control to the Conservatives. They just wanted to stop the Greens from leading the council. I had no option but to leave the Labour Party to do what was right for the people who elected me.”
After a spell as an Independent, Helen defected this spring to the Greens, attracted by the party’s core values of integrity, compassion, connection, and creating greener, fairer communities. Helen’s defection from Labour took the number of Green seats on SDC to 14.
Helen says she felt regret at having to leave Labour but firmly believes it was the right thing to do. “Being in a political party is like being part of a tribe of like-minded people, so leaving is bound to cause feelings of loss. But I’m part of a new tribe now, and I’m very happy as part of the Green family.”
She is now running to retain her seat in Chalford as a Green, alongside fellow Green candidates Tricia Watson and James Boyle.
Helen says: “As a Green Party councillor I will work towards improving health and quality of life, reducing the impact of inequalities, encouraging community engagement, supporting the most vulnerable and – of course – protecting the natural environment.”
She adds: “Most people don’t realise that voting for Labour candidates locally just risks more meddling from Keir Starmer. A vote for the Greens, on the other hand, is a vote for candidates who work hard and make the best decisions for our area without being told what to do by their party leaders.”
You can read more about Helen here: https://stroud.greenparty.org.uk/your-candidates/chalford-candidates/#helen
Danae Savvidou, candidate for Dursley
Danae resigned from the Labour Party in 2022, when the national Party blocked Doina Cornell, then Labour group leader on Stroud District Council, from standing as an MP.
Danae and Doina both left the Labour Party on the same day, in protest.
Danae says: “The way Doina was treated nationally and the way leading figures in the local party readily accepted that treatment, felt like a huge betrayal of someone who had given her life to the District and who had the most experience to take Labour into the general election.
“It felt like no matter how hard you worked or for how long, they could still dig to find a reason to stop you leading.”
Did she feel any regret at leaving Labour? “Yes, I felt a massive sense of loss,” Danae says. “But at the same time, I felt forced out. I had already been struggling with Labour’s position on Palestine and them banning front benchers from picket lines.”
Danae switched to the Green Party because its values aligned with her own. “I felt drawn by the unapologetic approach of kindness towards migrants, the Greens’ position on Palestine and their constant work to fight the climate crisis,” she said. “Looking back, it was definitely the right choice to join the Greens; the party feels like a natural home for me.”
Danae has been a Dursley Town Councillor for three years and is standing as a Green candidate for Stroud District Council for the first time in May.
Danae has the backing of Doina Cornell, who said: “Danae is a principled person who… really cares about making our town a better place.”
Former Labour councillor Trevor Hall, who currently represents Dursley as an Independent, is also supporting Danae’s campaign. He said: “I can’t think of a candidate I would prefer to see replacing me on the District Council.”
You can see more information about Danae here: https://stroud.greenparty.org.uk/your-candidates/dursley-candidates/
Promoted by Rob Brookes on behalf of Stroud District Green Party, at 17 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5QT
