Guy Lambert Switch Gives Greens Seat on Hounslow Council |
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Veteran councillor says he shares his new party's values
November 5, 2025 Cllr Guy Lambert has joined the Green Party and says he will seek election next year as a Green candidate after being expelled from the Labour Party earlier this year. He becomes the first ever representative of The Greens on Hounslow Council. Cllr Lambert, has represented wards in the Brentford area since he was first elected in July 2015 at a by-election caused by Ruth Cadbury resignation after her election as an MP. He said he had been an enthusiastic Labour supporter until about a year ago and campaigned for the party at the last general election. He resigned from the Hounslow cabinet in May because he was concerned about the executive’s direction and what he described as “the abolition of democracy within the Hounslow Party.” His expulsion from the party for ‘uncomradely conduct’ followed due to his public questioning of cabinet decisions. For a time, he considered standing as an Independent Socialist for his Brentford West ward but, after discussions with friends in the Green Party and in light of what he describes as the party’s now more openly left‑wing policies, he decided to join the Greens. “The policies and approach of the Green Party would provide a welcome improvement on the increasingly undemocratic approach of the Labour administration,” he said, adding that he shares Green values of honesty, fairness, competence and empathy. In a statement announcing the decision he said, “I am a person with an independent instinct and my passion is for improving the town, irrespective really of politics. I think serving as a ward councillor should primarily look for the improvement of his ward.” He pointed to his long record of local engagement and communications, his publication on BrentfordTW8.com of more than 500 weekly blogs over ten years that report on his activities as a councillor. He criticised the current Labour leadership and candidate selection processes as “deeply flawed,” while praising some of his former party colleagues. He said he hoped Labour would “rediscover democracy after the 2026 election, perhaps being forced to do so by election results.” He concluded, “The policies and approach of the Green Party would provide a welcome improvement on the increasingly undemocratic approach of the Labour administration. I like the policies, and particularly the Green values – honesty, fairness, efficient and competent management, empathy, working for you… “I have tried to follow those principles as a Labour and latterly Independent councillor. As a Green councillor, I will be able to retain these values and seek to spread them across the council.” Cllr Lambert topped the poll at the last council elections in the two-seat Brentford West constituency gaining over 500 votes more than the next non-Labour candidate who was Stephen Clark of the Greens. There has been a spate of defections of Labour councillors in London to the Greens recently. Former chair of Southwark Labour Party, Kath Whittam made the switch citing similar concerns about democracy within the party. Other defections have taken place in Haringey, Lambeth and Barking. The Green Party in Hounslow has been asked for a comment. The next local council elections are due to take place on 7 May 2026.
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