Greens Launch Local Election Campaign with Focus on Housing and Rent Controls
Greens Target Housing Crisis and Leasehold Reform in Local Election Bid
The Green Party officially commenced its local election campaign today, with leader Zack Polanski delivering a strong critique of the government's performance on affordable and social housing. Speaking in Lewisham, south-east London, a key target area for Green gains, Polanski also called for the immediate introduction of rent controls across the capital.
The party's recent by-election triumph in Gorton and Denton, which saw them secure a Westminster seat and push Labour into third place behind Reform UK, has injected considerable momentum into their campaign. Polanski suggested this outcome foreshadows a wider electoral dynamic in England, characterising the contest as a "straight up battle between hope and hate" against Reform.
With both Labour and the Conservatives anticipated to cede ground to smaller parties in the 7 May local elections, the Greens are ambitiously targeting record gains in English councils. This includes a strategic focus on London boroughs such as Hackney, Lambeth, Islington, and Southwark, where they aim to challenge Labour's established dominance.
Polanski accused Labour of being unduly influenced by housing developers, prioritising luxury developments over much-needed affordable and social homes. He further criticised the government for a perceived U-turn on its promise to abolish the "feudal" leasehold system, alleging a greater interest in appeasing property developers than in alleviating the financial burden on millions of leaseholders.
The Green Party has pledged to enact a national abolition of leasehold and implement rent controls should they form a government. They highlighted the success of Green-led councils in Lewes and Mid Suffolk in delivering new council homes. However, a Labour Party spokesperson countered these claims, accusing Green councillors of impeding new home construction and failing to honour their own housing commitments where in power. Labour maintains it is actively investing in new homes and has strengthened tenants' rights with the Renters' Rights Act.
Beyond domestic policy, Polanski also used his speech to condemn what he described as Labour's complicity in the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and criticised the government's failure to impose sanctions, advocating for the UK's disengagement from the US and Israel's Middle East conflicts.
