The Green Party has made history by winning four seats in the general election. The party took Bristol Central off Labour, two seats in the former Conservative leaning Waveney Valley and North Herefordshire and retained Brighton Pavilion. The party says that the quadrupling of Green MPs is the result of solid and positive campaigning on the ground in all the target constituencies, a campaign supported by hundreds of volunteers who “relentlessly pounded the streets for months and weeks” in the run up to the general election.  

Carla Denyer, the new MP for Bristol Central, said:  

“The Green Party has made history. First and foremost, we say thank you to the voters who have put their trust in us. This is an incredible breakthrough, quadrupling our number of MPs. These victories, together with a doubling of our 2019 vote share to over 7% and the fact we came second in 39 seats in England and Wales, shows clearly that people have embraced the chance to choose real hope and real change right across the country, in both urban and rural settings.  

“I am so delighted that voters in Bristol Central have chosen me to be their MP. This was a hard-fought battle, and I pay tribute to Thangam Debbonaire for her time as a hard-working MP here. 

“I love this city. Bristol is different, distinctive and dynamic and I feel deeply honoured that so many voters have chosen me to represent them in parliament.”   

Adrian Ramsay, who won in the new seat of Waveney Valley said:  

“This is the first time someone other than a Conservative MP has represented this part of the country. With a Green MP, Mid Suffolk District Council having a Green majority and Greens being elected to councils across the region, the map of East Anglia is being redrawn. Gone is the sea of blue to be replaced by swathes of Green. 

“I will be an active local MP, focused on representing Waveney Valley while pressing the new government to be bolder on the action needed to restore public services and defend the environment.”  

Ellie Chowns who also won her seat from the Conservatives in North Herefordshire, said: 

“It was clear that the Conservatives had become deeply unpopular, but this result had more to do with the Greens’ positive offer, one which looked at how investment in our health, care and dental services, affordable housing as well as our commitment to cleaning up our rivers and addressing the climate and natures crises can improve the lives of everyone.” 

“Our role now is to challenge the Labour government to be better and we will strive to do that every day.” 

Sian Berry, who retained Brighton Pavilion, where Greens have held the seat since 2010, said: 

“I am so delighted that voters in Brighton Pavilion have chosen to keep their city Green, electing a Green MP for the fifth time in a row. I am hugely proud of this city and its desire to challenge the status quo.  

“It is also fantastic to know that we have quadrupled our number of MPs and that I will be working alongside three amazing colleagues. That’s four times the influence and energy to work constructively with the new Labour government on some of our shared goals while pushing them to be bolder where we think their ambition is lacking. Greens will be pushing the policies for a fairer economy, to mend our broken public services, and for serious action on the climate and nature crises. 

“We pay tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who came from far and wide and relentlessly pounded the streets for months and weeks in the run up to the general election. Thank you for your incredible support – these results would not have been possible without you.” 

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5 July 2024 by Paul Corry

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New Green MP, and party co-leader, Adrian Ramsay said: 

“The voters of Waveney Valley have made a momentous and exciting decision today to vote for positive change, and I am profoundly humbled by the faith they have placed in me and the Green Party in electing me as their MP.  

“I promise each and every one of them, whether they voted for me or not, that I will do my utmost to make sure their voices are heard by those who have neglected them, and rural East Anglia, for so long. 

“Waveney Valley voters have shown that they no longer want to tolerate the complacency of the Conservative Party, who have always treated this region as their own, and that they want an MP who will stand up for and listen to local people. 

“Today, in the beautiful Waveney Valley, we have made history.  The people of Waveney Valley have shown that the Green Party appeals just as much in rural areas as it does in the cities.  People here have embraced our message of hope and positivity, that there is action that can and must be taken to defend our environment and restore our public services – and that’s what I’ll be pressing for, on behalf of local people. 

“I pledged during my campaign that I and any other Green Party MPs elected would hold the new Government to account and push for the action needed on the issues that people are most concerned about, and I recommit to that pledge today.   

“I’ve had thousands of conversations with local residents over the last few years and I know they want an active and visible local MP, as well as someone who will be an independent-minded MP in Parliament. I am determined to fulfil that role. As a native East Anglian, I am clear that I will be Waveney Valley’s voice in Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in Waveney Valley. Standing up for our area and striving to make a difference for local people will be my top priority. 

“Residents have said they are impressed at the strength of the local Green campaign and I must thank the amazing small team of staff and large team of volunteers who have put in an incredible amount of work and a highly organised campaign to make this happen. To everyone who voted for me, and everyone who has supported my campaign in any way: thank you from the bottom of my heart.” 

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5 July 2024 / 5 July 2024 by Paul Corry

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As the polls close, Green Party Co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who is standing in Waveney Valley, said: 

“Tonight, Greens are on the brink of new breakthroughs. The Greens offered real hope and real change at this election and voters have been responding. 

“In Conservative-inclined places like Waveney Valley and North Herefordshire, and in cities like Bristol and Brighton voters have come out to vote Green. 

“We stood more candidates than ever before – giving people across England and Wales the chance to vote Green in ever greater numbers.  

“Our fantastic candidates and wonderful volunteers have made the case for a different kind of politics and can be immensely proud of what they achieved during this long campaign.” 

Co-leader Carla Denyer, standing in Bristol Central, said: 

“It is clear from the exit poll that Labour has won and won big. 

“We want it to succeed in government and we want its ambitions and achievements to be bolder.  

“That will be the task of our next generation of Green MPs we hope to see elected tonight, to push Labour in government to be bolder, braver, and more ambitious – and to put new issues on the agenda.   

“We have succeeded in getting progressive policies like a wealth tax on the super-rich to fund the rebuilding of our crumbling public services on the election agenda. Now we need to get it on the new government’s agenda. 

“The Conservatives broke Britain. If Labour is to begin to mend the damage, it is going to need to listen to Green voices in and outside parliament. 

“The tectonic political plates are shifting. In just a few hours we will be able to see how far.” 

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