London former Labour council leader defects to Greens

[Green Party]

Southwark councillor [James McAsh][1] has defected to the Green Party from Labour with a blast at Starmer’s factionalism and red-Tory austerity politics. McAsh was [elected as council leader in July 2025][2], but the central party [moved to quash the result][3] and installed a tame Starmeroid.

In his resignation from Labour, McAsh said that he can no longer ask Southwark residents to vote for Starmer’s party because the Labour-run council is:

> planning for funding gaps larger than those faced in almost every year of Conservative and Liberal Democrat austerity, this time imposed by a Labour government.
> 
> Unless something changes, Labour cuts will devastate the local services that as residents of this fantastic borough, we all rely on.

McAsh added:

> I grew up in a Labour household and I’ve devoted much of my adult life to the party. I’m proud of the work I’ve done in Southwark – but Labour is no longer the vehicle for social justice I once thought it was.

He is the fourth Southwark Labour councillor to join the Greens since last year’s scandal and the seventh to resign from Labour. Southwark is part of a [London-wide phenomenon of Labour councillors flooding to the Greens][4] since Zack Polanski won that party’s leadership — including [at least one deputy mayor][5].

*Featured image via [SouthworkNews][6]*

By [Skwawkbox][7]

[1]: https://www.instagram.com/greenjamesmcash/
[2]: https://southwarknews.co.uk/news/community/exclusive-sarah-king-confirmed-as-next-leader-of-southwark-amid-allegations-by-rival-over-election-integrity-and-with-three-councillors-threatening-to-quit/#:~:text=But%20her%20confirmation%20is%20unlikely,ensure%20proper%20procedure%20was%20followed.
[3]: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chaos-london-labour-council-leader-160954125.html#:~:text=Premier%20League-,Chaos%20at%20London%20Labour%20council%20as%20leader%20ousted%20by%20own,Southwark%20Labour%20and%20the%20council.
[4]: https://www.thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2025/12/16/green-party-surge/
[5]: https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2021/10/15/a-labour-deputy-mayor-has-defected-to-the-greens-ouch/
[6]: https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/exclusive-trade-union-heads-claim-james-mcash-was-blocked-from-becoming-southwark-labour-leader-due-to-his-left-wing-politics/
[7]: https://www.thecanary.co/author/skwawkbox/


https://www.thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2026/02/18/green-party-gains/