Dalston Green councillor takes up City Hall seat following surprise resignation

Dalston councillor and new London Assembly Member Zoë Garbett. Photograph: Green Party

Dalston councillor Zoë Garbett is now a London Assembly Member – following the shock resignation of her Green Party colleague Siân Berry.

The Green Party’s former co-leader resigned from her role, just three days after winning re-election.

Berry is running to replace Caroline Lucas as Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, though she previously said she would “keep representing the people of London” until the general election – and would only resign if she successfully became an MP.

Her departure from City Hall means that the party’s mayoral candidate, Zoe Garbett, takes her place, without the need for a by-election.

The former NHS worker said: “I am excited to join the Assembly and get to work for Londoners.

“There is so much to do improve the quality of our lives in London, stand up for people on the margins and hold the Mayor to account.”

Berry, who had served on the London Assembly from 2016, added: “Zoë has shown how much of a difference she will make in City Hall, listening to Londoners and bringing their voices into the political debate.

“That’s why she needs to be in this job as soon as possible. She is already brilliant councillor and will be a brilliant Assembly Member for Londoners.”

The Greens received 11.6 per cent of the vote on the London Assembly ballot, which was only enough to get their top three candidates elected as assembly members.

Garbett was placed fourth on the list, meaning that she narrowly missed out on joining Berry, Zack Polanski and Caroline Russell in representing the Greens at City Hall.

Berry’s resignation means that Garbett is automatically allowed to take her place.

As mayoral candidate, Garbett received 5.8 per cent of the vote last week.

Having come third in the previous three mayoral elections, the Green Party slipped into fourth place, finishing behind the Liberal Democrats by just 70 votes.

Labour’s Sadiq Khan was re-elected with 43.8 per cent of the vote, while his Tory rival, Susan Hall, took 32.7 per cent.