- Cllr Stuart Allen takes over as Southend Green Party Group Leader for the new municipal year, following an agreed leadership rotation.
- The Greens operate a flat hierarchy with no whip, allowing councillors to vote freely and share decisions equally.
- Outgoing leader Cllr Richard Longstaff hails the party’s growth and says it’s “an exciting time to be in the Green Party.”
The Southend Green Party has announced that Councillor Stuart Allen will take over as Group Leader for the coming municipal year.
The leadership change is part of the Green Group’s flat hierarchy, which emphasises fairness and shared responsibility. When Councillor Allen was elected last year, the group agreed to rotate the leadership role annually among its councillors. The position exists solely for council proceedings; all Green councillors have equal weight in decision-making, and, with no party whip, are free to vote according to their conscience.
“It’s been a pleasure to serve as our Group Leader over the past year, and I know Stuart will do an amazing job. From being a lone voice on the council to becoming a growing group with an increasing vote share—it’s an exciting time to be part of the Green Party.”
Cllr Richard Longstaff
“I’m looking forward to stepping into the role, especially at such a pivotal moment for the Council, as we move toward a Combined Authority Mayor and local government reorganisation. We’ve got a fantastic team behind us and we’re ready to meet the challenges ahead.”
Cllr Stuart Allen
The change in leadership took effect this month.
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