Green Party deputy leader sets sights on Senedd seat

The Green Party’s deputy leader has set her sights on the election of their first-ever member to the Welsh parliament next year.

Amelia Womack said she would stand in the South Wales East region at the Senedd election, which includes her hometown of Newport.

The Green Party have had politicians elected to both Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and the London Assembly but have so far failed to gain a seat at the Senedd.

Amelia Womack said she would also seek a fourth term as deputy leader of the Green Party in Wales and England.

“We know the importance and power of having a Green in the room,” Amelia Womack said.

“From the Scottish Parliament to the London Assembly, from Westminster to local councils, Greens have been instrumental in changing the conversation on climate change and social justice.

“But there’s never been a Green in the Welsh Parliament. As deputy leader going into next year’s Welsh Parliament elections, I want to be the first Green elected to the Senedd.

“Across the UK, the Green Party is a powerful force for good in politics. Now we can be the new force in Welsh politics.”

‘Planet’

The Green Party came in at seventh place in the South Wales East region in 2016, with 2.5% of the regional vote.

Alongside the Welsh election campaign, Womack said she was focusing her re-election effort around strengthening and mobilising the party’s grassroots – in both local elections and in issue-based campaigns around climate change and workers’ rights.

“With more local elections taking place than ever before next year – we have a real opportunity to transform local communities, with even more Green councillors,” she said.

“I want to support all of our incredible councillors to deliver a Green recovery from the coronavirus crisis – which puts both people and the planet ahead of private profit.”

Only one other candidate has stepped forward for the deputy leadership election so far – London based activist Nick Humberstone.

Meanwhile, Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley have announced they are seeking re-election as co-leaders of the party.

Nominations for the Green Party’s leadership elections close on June 30, with members voting on their new leadership team throughout August.