17:00, 15 Dec 2025Updated 17:36, 15 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Green](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Defectors.jpg\")
(From Left to Right) Cllr Tony Ethapemi, Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam, Cllr Mary Mitchell, Cllr Harbi Farah, Cllr Erica Gbajumo(Image: Brent Greens)<\/p>\n
A group of sitting Labour councillors<\/a> in a North London<\/a> borough have defected to the Green Party, whilst criticising their former party as “no longer serving the principles it once championed”.<\/p>\n The group is made up of five councillors in Brent<\/a>, with four already been dropped by the party ahead of next year’s local elections but who were still set to be serving Labour councillors until then.<\/p>\n Green Party Leader, Zack Polanski, officially announced the defections today (December 15), which includes a Cabinet Member and Lead Whip. Mr Polanski talked of a “Green surge” during the event at Chalkhill Community Centre in Wembley Park.<\/p>\n When eight councillors were told <\/a>they had not been selected to stand at the elections on May 7 next year, some described being “deflated, depressed, or angry”. Those sentiments appear to have festered since that decision was made back in September and acted as a catalyst for recent defections. It means the Greens now have the third most councillors on Brent Council – one behind the official Conservative opposition.<\/p>\n The five defections include Welsh Harp Councillors Mary Mitchell and Harbi Farah – who is also the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills – Wembley Park Councillor and Chief Whip Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam, Stonebridge Councillor Tony Ethapemi, and Brondesbury Park Councillor Erica Gbajumo.<\/p>\n Cllr Farah said the decision to leave the Labour Party<\/a> was “not one made lightly” but was necessary due to an “overwhelming and accumulating sense of disappointment” that the party “no longer serves the principles it once championed”.<\/p>\n He added: “I am [not] leaving the Labour Party because my values have changed; the party has. I still believe in a society structured around solidarity and genuine systemic change. I am a socialist, and I seek a political home that unambiguously champions these ideals.<\/p>\n “It is with this renewed clarity that I have decided to join the Green Party. In the Green Party, I have found a movement that not only understands the urgency of the climate crisis but also fundamentally embraces socialist principles. The Green Party’s commitment to public ownership, wealth redistribution, strengthening public services, and championing a universal basic income aligns precisely with the socialist vision of an equitable society.”<\/p>\n Cllr Iman took a swipe at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of having “doubled down on austerity”, as well as “siding with developers” and “scapegoating migrants”. He also slammed the Government for continuing to supply arms to Israel “whilst [it] commits genocide in Gaza”.<\/p>\n Since 2015, the UK has approved arms export licences to Israel worth over \u00a3500m – peaking in 2018, according to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) pressure group. After the Labour Party came to power last year, it suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences, affecting equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones.<\/p>\n The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) approached the London Labour regional branch for a comment but it did not respond. However, it has seen a leaked email sent by the party to all Brent councillors advising them to “not comment publicly” and demonstrate a “visible and confident show of strength” across all wards.<\/p>\n The email adds: “While no councillor or candidate has formally notified us of any intention to defect, we are aware of the reports and we are prepared. This is clearly disappointing, though it is evident these moves will have been planned for some time.<\/p>\n “While we will wish individuals well personally, if they choose to leave our movement then they have chosen to leave our team, and we must treat them as political opponents going forwards.”<\/p>\n Brent Green Party said the decision will enable the councillors to “speak out and push back” against the Labour administration in Brent. These latest defections to the Green Party come on the back of seven previously taking place in London alone since September – with two in Southwark<\/a> in the last month.<\/p>\n Mr Polanski said: “The Green surge has just widened in London. What we’re witnessing in Brent mirrors what we’re hearing across the country on doorsteps and in polls. Good Labour councillors can see Labour has abandoned any sense of progressive politics and is showing absolute cowardice in its doomed attempt to ‘out Reform’ Reform with the politics of division and scapegoating.<\/p>\n “Increasingly, people are finding the alternative they need by joining the Green Party and working for a better world shaped by hope rather than fear. In the elections in May, it is the Greens who will be taking the fight to Reform and we show our intent today in Brent. This is just the start.”<\/p>\n Following the announcement, London Labour released the following statement: “Zack Polanski has today announced a slate of Green councillor candidates in Brent. For the avoidance of doubt, all but one of the individuals unveiled were not selected to stand for the Labour Party at the next election, as they fell below the standards we require of those seeking to represent Labour.<\/p>\n “The Labour Party operates rigorous and transparent selection processes and maintains the highest standards for its candidates. Mr Polanski\u2019s approach suggests a far lower bar for entry, raising serious questions about the level of scrutiny and judgment applied in the Green Party.”<\/p>\n![\"Leader](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_FMA_02472.jpg\")
Leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, said there’s a “Green surge” happening in London as five Labour councillors in Brent joined the party(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga\/MyLondon)<\/p>\n