Councillors explain why they ditched Labour for the Green Party

Three Swindon councillors have explained why they ditched Labour for Zack Polanski’s Green Party:

"There is no debate left at any level in the Labour Party"

Three councillors in Swindon who recently left the Labour party and joined the Greens explain why they did it. pic.twitter.com/SJpuB80slm

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) January 10, 2026

“There is no debate left” say new Green Party councillors

The interviewer from Sky News asks the following of the three new Green Party councillors:

In the press conference where it was announced that you were moving over to the Greens from Labour, you said that the Labour Party left you, you didn’t leave Labour. What did you mean by that?

Councillor Repi Begum responded:

I feel like those that have always been loyal to Labour and have been Labour supporters naturally have been left behind, left isolated, and Labour seems to be going for a certain type of vote now, and it feels like they’ve lost their principles in order to try and get some Reform-style voters.

Councillor Tom Butcher said:

Yeah, I think for me is that positive message that the Green Party are putting out there, especially from their leader, Zack Polanski. That message of hope, of things can be better.

Councillor Ian Edwards added:

With me, probably the transition, I’d use that as a word instead of defection, has been coming for a long, long time. We’re all on the left and the Green Party are the only party that represent the left at the moment.

Asked if Keir Starmer influenced their decision to leave Labour, Begum said:

Keir Starmer I think has been leading that role of isolating people, and like I say, it doesn’t feel like what true Labour should be. I just felt like each day there was less and less hope.

Locally I think… there’s a select few with a voice. And the louder your voice, you’re going to get heard, and us sort of backbenchers we’re kind… whipped – ‘you need to say this… you need to say that’.

Edwards added:

There is no debate left at any level in the lay party. You’re told to say something, and if you don’t just stay quiet.

End of the line

There’d maybe be an argument for Starmer’s authoritarianism if he was achieving results, but he isn’t. Not only is he a failure; he’s also incredibly unpopular, and he’s rubbed the stink of death all over his party.

🚨 Latest Opinium @ObserverUK poll 🚨

Keir Starmer’s approval rating has fallen to net -46, his joint lowest score ever.

It matches Theresa May’s historic low in May 2019.

A difficult start to 2026 for the prime minister. pic.twitter.com/x6Lv9UElk2

— Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) January 10, 2026

More councillors will leave Labour for the Green Party as a result of Starmer, and fewer candidates will put themselves forwards.

The sad truth is the Labour establishment fought tooth and nail to get here. Now that they’ve achieved the power they dreamed of, it’s obvious they never had any plan beyond achieving power for the sake of it.

Featured image via X