2024 Local Elections:

Thursday 2nd May 2024, 07:00-22:00

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Our 2024 Candidates

Meet your Green Party Southend candidates

The Green Party will be standing candidates in every ward across Southend in the forthcoming local elections.
Our representatives are some of the most passionate and hard-working local people you'll find!

From Teachers to Small Business Owners, to Nurses to Designers, we've got someone from every walk of life; our candidates are as proudly diverse as the community we serve.

Nathaniel Love

Belfairs Ward

Nathaniel Love is the Green Party candidate for Belfairs ward.

He works for a national wildlife conservation charity and cares about the protection of our natural spaces, biodiversity, and green assets.

He studied politics at the University of Lincoln and is passionate about supporting local businesses and residents.

Nathaniel is a vocal advocate for environmentalism and social justice, and is also a keen supporter of the Save Southend NHS campaign working to protect our local NHS from cuts to services.

In his spare time, Nathaniel enjoys discovering new hiking trails and learning about local history. He also enjoys playing music and is involved in supporting local bands and musicians.

Nathaniel is an experienced candidate, having stood in several City Council elections for the Green Party, including Belfairs in 2023.

AJ Sutherland

Blenheim Ward

AJ Sutherland is the Green Party candidate for Blenheim.

They have lived in Southend all their life, apart from a brief departure to study an MGeol in Applied & Environmental Geology in Leicester. They work in a local community pharmacy.

As a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, AJ is an outspoken advocate for equal rights across all marginalised communities.

AJ is passionate about holding governments and news outlets to account for their role in climate change and has taken part in grassroots campaigning with the Climate Genocide Act Now group. AJ says their aim is to leave a positive impact on the world.

AJ has been the Green candidate for Blenheim since 2021.

James Vessey-Miller

Chalkwell Ward

James Vessey-Miller is the Green Party candidate for Chalkwell.

Well-known as the former publican of the Railway Hotel, one of Southend's most-loved live music venues, James is also actively engaged in many Southend-based community arts organisations, also previously working as the Vice-Chair of Southend Pride.

He has been a long-standing campaigner for Social Justice, better town planning, and transparent government.

As well as being the Branch Coordinator of the local Green Party since 2018, James also works as one of the Green Party's staff in Westminster, working to get Greens elected across the country.

Lauren Ekins

Eastwood Park Ward

Lauren Ekins is the Green Party candidate for Eastwood Park.

Lauren has lived in Southend-on-Sea all her life, apart from 3 years studying for a BA (Hons) in Primary Education at Canterbury Christchurch University.

As a local Primary School teacher, she has led Eco-councils at multiple schools and helped to educate and inspire the next generation about taking care of our planet and our local area.

As well as teaching, Lauren has also trained and worked as a local Police officer. In both jobs, she has worked supporting vulnerable residents and has seen firsthand the struggles they face daily.

Lauren is a passionate advocate for equality for all the people of Southend and believes much more can be done to support the poorest and most vulnerable in our city.

Thomas Love

Kursaal Ward

Thomas Love is the Green Party candidate for Kursaal.

Thomas is an Art Therapist at a local Mental Health Hospital. When he's not working he is a passionate local filmmaker, having studied Film & Television at the University of Lincoln. In his spare time, Thomas also enjoys carpentry and cycling.

He believes passionately in closing the gender pay gap, working for LGBTIQA+ rights and increased support for mental health, and believes strongly in helping the homeless community.

"If I were elected I would work towards, maintaining/improving public transport and cycling accessibility, promote and support the implementation of solar panels on public buildings and private residences, regularly engaging and listening to local residents about the issues that affect them."

Thomas stood as the Green Party candidate for Eastwood Park in 2019, and has been our candidate for Kursaal since 2021.

Stuart Allen

Leigh Ward

Stuart lives and works in central Leigh and is a familiar face in the zero-waste shop, The Refill Room, where he has worked for a number of years.

He is known for starting the Instagram account ’The Jar Keeper’ where he shows zero waste and plastic-free alternatives to reduce landfill waste. He has previously given talks to resident groups and Council officers. You may also know him from his time at The Corner Club and the Cliffs Pavilion Restaurant.

He knows how important local businesses are to the community and is involved in several initiatives to provide support. He is well known in the ward for his dedicated work supporting residents and getting local issues fixed with a smile on his face.

Stuart works closely with Green Party City Councillor Richard Longstaff, and attends all Southend City Council and Leigh Town Council meetings.

You may see him around Leigh with his Golden Retriever, Millie, and he always has time for a chat with fellow residents.

Sarah-Ann Patel

Milton Ward

Sarah-Ann Patel is the Green Party candidate for Milton Ward.

Sarah-Ann has lived and worked in Southend for the past 11 years. Passionate about community and social equality, she is on the board of trustees at the Milton Community Partnership and works in the charity sector.

A Mum of two school kids, she is concerned about Air Pollution and the world we are leaving to the next generation and wants to see a vote for real change.

Sarah-Ann has been the Green Party candidate for Milton since 2021.

RJ Learmouth

Prittlewell Ward

RJ Learmouth is the Green Party candidate for Prittlewell.

A medical professional by trade, RJ is also an accomplished musician, and can often be found at all manner of local live music gigs.

An avid environmental activist, RJ is regularly found at Green Action events actively working to improve the open spaces around Southend. RJ is a passionate advocate for women's rights, is a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, and is also a keen cyclist.

RJ has been in Southend since 2008 and believes strongly in echoing the voices from minority groups, ensuring equality and justice for all.

Fiona Clapperton

Shoeburyness Ward

Fiona Clapperton is the Green Party candidate for Shoeburyness.

Fiona has lived in Shoeburyness since 2006 and has been a member of the Green Party since 2015. She works for a local mental health and well-being charity.

She attended Rodes University in South Africa and has a long-term interest in the environment and social justice.

She is also a Trustee of the local Transition Town group, Southend In Transition project (part of the Transition Network), which runs a Community allotment plot and also the highly-popular 'Southmenders Repair Cafe'

The Southend in Transition project is about encouraging communities to step up to address the big challenges they face by starting locally; by coming together, they are able to crowd-source solutions. The project seeks to nurture a caring culture, one focused on supporting each other, both as groups or as wider communities.

Fiona has been the Green Party candidate for Shoeburyness since 2021

Matt Dallat

Southchurch Ward

more details coming soon

Simon Gittus

St. Laurence Ward

Simon Gittus is the Green Party candidate for St. Laurence.

Simon is a Spatial Designer Director and a WELL Accredited Professional, with considerable experience in the commercial retail, hospitality and charity sectors. He is a key volunteer supporting our Green City Councillor Richard Longstaff, and attends every Southend City Council and Leigh Town Council meeting.

Simon is a keen advocate for better urban planning, with a particular interest in creating sustainable and livable communities. Much of his campaigning has been challenging the City Council over their lack of EV infrastructure and lack of protection for our natural assets and green spaces.

Tilly Hogrebe

St. Luke's Ward

Tilly Hogrebe is the Green Party candidate for St Luke's.

Originally from Germany, Tilly has lived in St. Luke’s since coming to Southend in 2010. She is active in her local community and believes bringing communities together is an essential building block for a healthy and sustainable future.

Tilly primarily works outdoors, where she teaches foraging courses to children and adults. She is passionate about greening and rewilding and she campaigns against chemical herbicides. As a parent of a primary school-aged child, she also feels strongly about the need for more outdoor education provision in schools across the city. 

Tilly has a background in the arts and in 2019 was named one of 20 inspiring women leading in art and climate.

Tilly has been the Green Party candidate for St Luke's since 2021.

Julie Callow

Thorpe Ward

Julie Callow is the Green Party candidate for Thorpe Ward.

A mother and former civil servant, Julie has lived in the area all her life.

Julie is well known as a key campaigner in the petition to stop the resurfacing and extension of the car park on Southchurch Park East. She is also one of the locals behind the Southchurch Park Community group, which seeks to defend the park against destructive development. In 2019, Julie was heavily involved in the successful 'Once Upon A Tree' campaign to stop the council from unnecessarily felling thousands of healthy trees across the town.

With qualifications in psychology and counselling, she has done sterling work in the community as part of various Homelessness, Youth at Risk, and Mental Health projects. She was involved in the former local homeless night shelters, and the Lady Kemp-Welch Partnership supporting children in care.

She is a member of the Essex Field and Essex Bat Groups, and is also a local beekeeper and a knowledgable animal lover, specialising in rehabilitating wildfowl.

Peter Walker

Victoria Ward

Peter Walker is the Green Party Victoria Ward candidate.

A retired schoolteacher, Peter, with his wife Janet, has spent much of the past 20 years caring for elderly relatives.

He is a keen cyclist and enjoys long walks on which he photographs wildlife; is an avid cross-county cyclist; and spends a lot of time making music as a pianist and as a member of the Southend Bach Choir.

Peter has long been involved in environmental conservation and the local Green Party, and is an experienced Green Party candidate, having stood for the party many times in multiple elections.

Stephen Jordan

Westborough Ward

Stephen Jordan is the Green Party candidate for Westborough.

Stephen has been a member of the Green Party since 1989 and has been involved with the local branch since 1996.

He is currently a lecturer and has a doctorate in social work.

He is a member of South East Essex Organic Gardeners and has had an allotment since 1998.

Gemma Deeney

West Leigh Ward

Gemma Deeney is the Green Party candidate for West Leigh.

Gemma is a local mum who owns the Refill Room zero-waste shop in central Leigh.

Gemma lives in Leigh, champions local companies, and promotes sustainability and well-being through her own business and initiatives.

Lea Williams

West Shoebury Ward

Lea Williams is the Green Party candidate for West Shoebury.

Lea is a local freelance Brand & Design Specialist, who graduated from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa as a commercial artist. Lea is extremely passionate about speaking out for the less privileged and spent time volunteering as a youth worker in Africa, helping underprivileged teenagers from the townships.

She is an avid photographer and enjoys being submerged in nature and among local people, sharing her experiences through the lens of the camera.

Lea also works with a local Mental Health charity, and volunteers with the Southend In Transition project.

About Southend City Council

Southend is divided into 17 wards, with three Councillors elected per ward, giving a total of 51 Councillor seats.

Each councillor is elected for a four-year term, and each year one-third of the council seats are elected, followed by one year without election.

Southend City Council is a Unitary Authority and does not take part in Essex County Council elections.

The Council has been run by a minority Conservative administration since May 2023.

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Southend is ready for better

The Greens have already delivered amazing results across the city, from stopping the monstrously expensive cliffslip museum, to working for residents in identifying and solving litter hotspots.

We are already gaining a lot of support from people across the city who have told us that they’ll be voting Green this year; they really appreciate the honesty and hard work of our dedicated local volunteers.

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The Green Party's vote share is increasing at every election in Southend.

In the 2019 European Parliament elections, the Green Party got more votes than both Labour and the Conservatives in Southend.

Nationally, in 2019, we gained almost 200 councillors, elected 7 MEPs and increased our votes by 60% in the General Election.

Up and down the country, Green Councillors are working hard for their communities and standing up for what matters.

We already have fantastic Green Councillors in neighbouring areas, and we look forward to having our Green Party Southend candidates elected too.

Want to help us win in Southend?

Our Green Party Southend candidates need your help to win.