Green party membership in UK passes 200,000 after byelection victory | Green party

The Green party’s membership has surpassed 200,000 following its recent victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection, where it secured a win over Labour with a significant margin.

Green Party Membership Triples

The party has seen its membership triple since September of last year, when it stood at approximately 68,000, following the appointment of Zack Polanski as its leader. The Green party’s win in Gorton and Denton marks its first success in a national byelection, pushing Labour into third place behind Reform UK.

The Greens now hold five seats in Parliament and are consistently performing at a similar level to the Liberal Democrats in national polls, while challenging both Labour and the Conservatives.

The byelection result has prompted some Labour MPs to call for a shift to the left in an effort to regain support from voters who have turned to the Greens. Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, was elected as the new MP for Gorton and Denton.

Polanski described the membership surge as a “political turning point,” stating that it represents a “movement that refuses to accept managed decline, climate delay or timid politics.” He added, “Greens are not here to be disappointed by Labour, but to replace them. We will not wait politely for change; we are building it.”

Labour’s membership numbers, while still the largest in the UK at over 330,000 as of last summer, have declined from a peak of more than 500,000 in 2019. Recent reports suggest Labour’s membership may now be fewer than 250,000, and even less than Reform UK.

The Conservative party’s membership is estimated to be around 120,000, while Reform UK claims to have over 270,000 members. Lib Dem membership was last recorded at approximately 80,000 in August.

While high membership numbers do not guarantee electoral success – as demonstrated by Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, who lost two general elections despite having over 500,000 members – they indicate a strong and engaged base that can contribute to increased volunteering and activism during elections.

The Greens’ recent surge has raised concerns among some senior Labour figures, who fear that Polanski’s party could take votes and seats from theirs in the upcoming local elections in England, particularly in certain London boroughs.

Polanski has consistently expressed the Greens’ ambition to replace Labour, warning that without decisive action, Keir Starmer would “hand this country on a plate” to Reform UK.