Green candidate Jenny Jones has come third in this year’s London Mayoral elections.
The
Green vote on the London Assembly was also the third highest, meaning
the party has overtaken the Liberal Democrats to become London’s third
party.
The Greens also finished in the top three in five constituency elections.
Jones said: “This is a wonderful day for Green politics.
“The
almost exclusive focus on the two frontrunners in the Mayoral election
meant that any other result was very unlikely, but our resolutely
positive campaign has stuck to the issues affecting Londoners and the
policies to address them.
“I
am over the moon that these messages have resonated. We’ve been able to
dispel the myth that when times are tough, green politics are a luxury.
More and more Londoners are realising that social and environmental
justice are tied together inseparably, and with more Assembly members
the Greens can help ensure that the Mayor is held to account on his
promises and that City Hall can help create a city more equal,
affordable, healthy, and safe for everyone.
“And
we know that this campaign has attracted some wonderful bright,
dedicated and loving young people to the party, who will pick up the
torch and carry it forward in the interests of London’s future.”
Jones received 98,913 votes compared to 91,774 to Brian Paddick in fourth place.
On the Assembly, the Greens received 189,215 votes compared to the Liberal Democrats on 150,447.
The Greens came third in Barnet and Camden, City and East, Greenwich and Lewisham, North East and South West constituencies.
Shahrar Ali, the Green Party candidate in Brent and Harrow, said: "I thank the 10,546
Green voters of Brent and Harrow. We have increased both our vote and
vote share across the electoral constituency and we will be back for
more. I look forward to receipt of the detailed results in a few days,
which I think will show even big advances in places where we campaigned
hardest."
Shahrar Ali
continued, "I congratulate Navin Shah on his excellent win, where he
will be joined by our two London wide Assembly Members Jenny Jones and
Darren Johnson. Across London, the Greens came third and we have
overtaken the Lib Dems in London for the first time in electoral
history."
Commenting on the prolongation of the count for Brent and Harrow, Shahrar Ali said: "I
was an observer at the Brent and Harrow count throughout the day, from
8am to 11pm. From the outset, I found I had to make several complaints
about what I witnessed as sloppy handling procedures. I think the
discovery of two thousand ballot papers whose votes had not initially
been recorded, and the need to rectify this, was partly a result of poor
handling processes. Whilst I have every confidence in the result, I
shall be raising my concerns with the requisite authorities."
