Several newly elected Green councillors in London have resigned or been ruled ineligible, forcing by-elections that will cost cash-strapped councils tens of thousands each
The capital has seen a wave of departures among newly elected Green Party councillors, a chain of events that will trigger multiple by-elections and add up to a significant expense for local authorities. Councils estimate each contest will cost between £20,000 and £25,000, leaving the cumulative bill to sit in the region of £100,000 to £120,000 depending on how many polls are required.
These developments follow the local elections and come at a moment when several boroughs experienced dramatic political change.
Beyond the raw sums, the resignations have focused attention on candidate vetting, electoral rules and party discipline. While some councillors stepped down for health reasons, others were unable to serve because of eligibility rules or party suspensions.
The situation has provoked criticism from opponents and raised practical questions about the timetable for arranging new elections and restoring representation to affected wards.
Who has stood down and the reasons given
Among those who have relinquished their recently won seats is Simon Anthony, elected in North Acton for Ealing, who cited ill health and asked for a by-election.
Another figure, Muhammed Naser, elected in the Regent’s Park ward of Camden, and James Tilden of Hackney Central were both found to be ineligible to serve under electoral rules relating to employment with the local authority. In Haringey, Jayon Henriques was also declared unable to take his seat, with the party saying the candidate made an error over eligibility. Separately, candidates including Saiqa Ali and Joanna Eaves were suspended by the party; both later indicated they would not take up their council roles. Across these cases, the reasons ranged from health problems to statutory disqualifications and party disciplinary action.
Eligibility issues that force resignations
Electoral law contains specific rules about who may serve as a councillor. For example, people employed by the same local authority—in some cases including school staff employed by the council—can be disqualified from holding a seat in that authority. These technical restrictions are not always obvious to candidates, and when they are breached the remedy is removal from office and the need for a fresh poll. Parties must therefore balance rapid candidate selection during high-turnout contests with thorough checks on eligibility to avoid costly reversals.
The financial and operational impact on councils
Each required contest means staff time, polling stations, ballot printing and associated administrative costs. Councils estimate each by-election will cost between £20,000 and £25,000, a meaningful burden for cash-strapped authorities. With multiple seats affected across boroughs including Ealing, Camden, Haringey, Hackney and Lambeth, the total bill for taxpayers is expected to reach a five-figure or low six-figure sum. Local officials must schedule these polls, notify electors and ensure the returning officers’ procedures comply with the Electoral Commission’s guidance.
What councils and parties say
Local Green party branches have described the steps they took once issues were identified, including informing electoral authorities and preparing to contest the resulting elections with replacement candidates. Opponents have seized the moment to criticise the party’s readiness to govern, arguing that the resignations and administrative lapses impose an avoidable cost on residents. Meanwhile, council returning officers must now plan a series of individual polls, each of which temporarily reduces ward representation until a new councillor is elected.
Political consequences and the wider context
The resignations come after a set of election results that reshaped control in several London boroughs. The Greens benefited from a decline in support for Labour in parts of the capital, making gains and taking control of councils such as Lewisham, Hackney and Waltham Forest, while traditional Labour strongholds including Brent, Enfield, Haringey, Southwark and Lambeth moved to no overall control. Those shifts meant the party’s newly elected cohort was larger than in previous years, increasing the impact when a subset of those councillors could not take or keep their seats.
For voters, the immediate effect is a repeat trip to the polls in affected wards and a temporary gap in representation. For parties, the episode underlines the importance of rigorous candidate vetting and clear internal discipline. For councils, the inevitable price tag—measured in tens of thousands per contest—will be added to already tight budgets, prompting renewed debate about how election administration should be funded and managed in future.
