Green assembly member quits days after election

Siân Berry was one of three Green Party candidates to be elected to the London Assembly

The Green Party's former co-leader Siân Berry has resigned from her role on the London Assembly three days after being re-elected.

Ms Berry was voted in to City Hall as one of three Green Party candidates, but is now running to replace Caroline Lucas as MP for Brighton Pavilion.

Her departure means mayoral candidate, Zoë Garbett, will take her place, without the need for a by-election.

Ms Berry said her replacement had shown "how much of a difference she will make in City Hall".

“That’s why she needs to be in this job as soon as possible," she added.

Ms Berry had served on the assembly since 2016, and was the Green mayoral candidate in 2008, 2016 and 2021.

She had previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she would “keep representing the people of London” until the general election – and would only resign if she successfully became an MP.

Zoë Garbett came fourth in the London mayoral election

Ms Berry was re-elected to City Hall on Saturday as a London-wide assembly member.

The Greens received 11.6% of the vote on that ballot, which was enough to get their top three candidates elected as assembly members.

With Ms Garbett placed fourth on the list, she missed out on joining them but Ms Berry’s resignation means the former mayoral candidate is automatically allowed to take her place, with no by-election required.

Ms Garbett said she was "excited to join the Assembly and get to work for Londoners".

"There is so much to do improve the quality of our lives in London, stand up for people on the margins and hold the mayor to account.”

A similar process has been used in the past, when assembly members like David Lammy and Kemi Badenoch – both now senior MPs – decided to leave the assembly mid-term, after winning seats in Parliament.

However, Ms Berry's resignation has been criticised by some, with Labour's shadow health secretary and Ilford North MP Wes Streeting branding the move "very poor".

Ms Garbett had received 5.8% of the vote in the mayoral election, coming fourth behind Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall and Rob Blackie.