27 July 2022
There are now a record number of Greens on Lancaster City Council after three Eco-Socialist Independent councillors decided to join the party. Councillors Kevin Frea, Faye Penny, and Alistair Sinclair, have worked very closely with Green Party councillors since a Cooperative Alliance was first formed after the elections in May 2019. Having now joined the Green Party, they will take their seats as Greens for the first time tonight, at Lancaster City Council’s meeting of full council.
Cllr Kevin Frea, who represents the rural Halton-with-Aughton Ward, has been the Cabinet member for Climate Action for the last three years and was reappointed as Deputy Leader of the Council when Green Councillor Caroline Jackson was elected by the Council as Leader in May 2021.
Kevin said: “The climate emergency is the main reason that I decided to get involved with local politics. The Green Party has been leading on this issue both nationally and on the council for over 20 years, and I have always admired how hard-working and well-informed Green councillors are. We have been working closely together with the Greens and I decided the best course of action for my remaining time as a councillor was to join them, considering our shared values and vision.”
Councillors Faye Penny and Alistair Sinclair, both represent John O’Gaunt Ward.
Faye said: “I have worked with Green councillors since I was first elected, and have recently supported them in several election efforts. It has become increasingly clear that few if any issues separate us, so joining the party feels like a formality at this point. I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard for the residents I represent, now with the formal support of the Green Party.”
Alistair, who was cabinet member for Communities & Social Justice from May 19 to Nov 20, said: “The past couple of weeks have demonstrated the extremely urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. Local councils certainly can’t solve all the problems we face, but I’m proud of the efforts that our Eco-Socialist group has made alongside the Greens over the last twenty months. The next few years are absolutely crucial in doing what we can to tackle global heating, and mitigate the effects of the climate breakdown we are now experiencing. We can’t do it alone, and we need everyone working together to push for the changes we need to see.”
While Cllr Kevin Frea will stand down at next May’s elections, Cllrs Faye Penny and Alistair Sinclair will be standing for re-election as Green councillors in their ward.
The Eco-Socialist Independent Group was formed in November 2020 when five councillors – including Cllrs Frea, Penny and Sinclair – left the Labour Party due to their disillusionment with its new direction, and abandonment of radical climate action, under leader Keir Starmer. Cllr Jack O’Dwyer-Henry, one of the group’s members, subsequently stood down last summer after graduating from Lancaster University, and moved back to Belfast to work for the Green Party of Northern Ireland. Cllr Katie Whearty, the group’s other member, will continue as an independent councillor.
Cllr Caroline Jackson, the Green Leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kevin, Faye and Alistair to the Green group. We are all focused on the priorities of achieving a just transition to a zero-carbon economy, supporting our independent businesses and serving our residents.”
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