By Kevin Henry
The local elections in England, alongside elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd on 7 May, will be the biggest since the 2024 general election, which elected Starmer’s Labour. It takes place in very different political context, with Labour massively damaged due to a litany of betrayals – complicit in the war in Iran, genocide in Palestine, scandal over the Epstein files, and Peter Mandelson, austerity and a new cost of living crisis. There is a deep sense that Labour continues where the Tories left off.
Alienation from Labour
This has led to a huge alienation from Labour, who will very likely lose a significant number of council seats, perhaps over 1,000 in England alone, alongside defeats in Scotland and Wales. The Tories, likewise, have not recovered from the 2024 General election. Instead, we have had the growth of Reform UK, a dangerous development.
In part, Reform gained support by cynically presenting itself as an alternative to the status quo, whereas in fact this racist, far-right party has recruited a small army of former Tory MPs. More recently, however, that search for an alternative has found a left-wing expression, in the massive initial interest in Jeremy Corbyn and Sultana’s ‘Your Party’ (which was criminally squandered by the former) and, more sustainably, in increased support for the Greens.
This has been particularly the case since Zack Polanski won the leadership of the Greens on a programme of left ‘eco-populism’. Since then they have seen their membership surge from 60,000 to 200,000. They have also seen their standing in opinion polls significantly improve, from an average of 7 or 8% to 17%, with one poll placing them joint second. Among younger voters, this is particularly pronounced: they are the most popular party among under-50s and have the largest student organisations.
Defeating Reform
Crucially, the Greens won with a significant victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, a constituency which has been Labour since the 1930s. That election saw Reform take second place, with Labour coming third. It shows the three-way split really existing in society, with the establishment in Labour and Tories significantly discredited, with a section of society impacted by vile racist ideas and the emergence of Reform, and finally, an important section looking broadly to the left – reflected most clearly in Greens at this point. The by-election shows that Labour can no longer claim that they are the party best placed to defeat
Reform. In fact, people want to use their vote not only against Reform, but also for a programme that points to a better way forward for ordinary people. Polanski has focused on several issues that have enhanced the Greens’ appeal. While the establishment has been discredited by its support for genocide in Palestine, Polanski is seen as being on the side, with the majority. Likewise, on trans rights, he has not gone along with the shift to the right among politicians in Britain. He has defended this oppressed community.
Taxing the rich
He has argued for a wealth tax that would impose a 1% tax on assets above £10 million, and 2% on assets over £1 billion, targeting less than 1% of households to raise an estimated £15 billion. Socialists would welcome this, but it is necessary to go much further, and be clear: if capitalists threaten to leave (as they will), their companies and assets should be nationalised, under workers’ control. This is the only way to respond to such economic blackmail, and create a more equal society – without billionaires and with everyone’s needs met.
Unfortunately, the record of the Greens is not one of consistently opposing austerity. In many countries, including Germany, Scotland and Ireland, they have joined right-wing coalitions and implemented neoliberal policies. They lead coalitions in 12 local authorities in Britain, and are part of coalitions in two dozen more. In Bristol City Council, they have duly passed on austerity from the government and imposed £50 million in cuts.
A radical alternative needed
Socialists want to engage with a positive mood around Greens and the desire it reflects for a radical, left-wing alternative to the hellscape that capitalism has created. Polanski and the Greens have partially reflected this desire, but they must go further if they are to avoid disappointing those who have rallied to support them.
This means committing to implementing no-cuts budgets for local councils, which they have steadfastly avoided until now. They should place themselves in the forefront of the struggle for Palestinian freedom, against racism, and supporting workers who oppose the cost-of-living crisis.
As the system further degenerates and fuels war, genocide and the far right, a bold socialist programme that breaks with the capitalist status quo has to be fought for.
