Greens win historic victory to seize city council

The Green Party has taken control of Norwich City Council, ending Labour's reign at the authority.

The party claimed five Labour seats, meaning it now holds 21 of 39 seats and has a majority at City Hall.

It has taken control from Labour which has led the authority for most of the time since it was established in 1974.

Green group leader, Lucy Galvin, said: "We've made history in Norwich, and Norwich has voted for this. It's voted for hope; it's voted for a future; it's voted for councillors that work with people, not against them."

Labour has been reduced to 12 seats with the Liberal Democrats on three and Reform UK on two. There is one Independent councillor.

Previously the Greens had only ever had a majority on one council in England, Mid Suffolk.

In the latest elections, the Greens also took control of Hastings and the London borough of Waltham Forest, as well as winning mayoral contests in Hackney and Lewisham.

Galvin said support for the Greens had built in Norwich since the party first won seats in the city in 2002.

She said it had been a strong result for the party, resulting in a handsome majority that showed people were behind it.

"Norwich was always unusual in having Green councillors. It's deep-rooted," she said.

"I was first elected in 2011 and there were many councillors before me... it's a place that's led the way in having Green councillors and it's very sweet today to see it have a Green-led council."

• As it happened: Live results and reaction from Norfolk

Labour has led the council as a minority administration since a spate of resignations in 2023.

As well as losing five seats to the Greens in Thursday's election, it lost two more to Reform UK.

Labour group leader, Mike Stonard, said: "It's obviously disappointing we have lost control of the council.

"There are some excellent councillors, who have worked really hard in their communities for local people, who have lost their seats, and that's always really sad when that happens."

He said projects including the progress on Anglia Square and securing £20m Pride in Place funding had been popular on the doorstep during campaigning.

"I think there is a national political tide around Reform and the Green Party and sometimes, when there is a really strong pressure like that, you can't swim against it," he said.

The Greens made history by taking control in Norwich, as previously the party had only had a majority on one other council in England.

They have been a force in the city for some time, however, and have been the main opposition for several years.

Before the election, Labour had said it was confident its vote was holding up and it could maintain control of a council it has traditionally dominated.

Instead, it faced a wipeout, losing all the seats it was defending.

Meanwhile, Reform UK will be satisfied to have made a breakthrough in a city that traditionally skews left to centre-left.

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