At a Glance
- Green Party announces candidate for Leigh ward ahead of May’s local elections
- Former Leigh Town Councillor and local hairdresser selected
- Greens aiming to secure a third Leigh seat on Southend City Council
- Party highlights growing local membership and momentum
Leigh hairdresser and former Town Councillor Anita Forde has been announced as the Green Party’s candidate for Leigh ward at May’s local elections.
Anita hopes to join current Green Councillors Richard Longstaff and Stuart Allen on Southend City Council.
Cllr Richard Longstaff, the city’s first ever Green Councillor, said,
“It’s fantastic to welcome Anita to the team. She lives locally, runs a small business, and has valuable council experience – she’s the perfect choice for Leigh voters this year.”
Anita said,
“It’s great to be part of the Green team. The Greens are the only credible alternative for residents. Their message of hope for a fairer, greener future really resonates with me as a small business owner and local resident. I’ve seen the great work Stuart and Richard are doing, and I want to help them go even further and turn Leigh fully Green in May.”
Cllr Stuart Allen, Green Party Councillor for Leigh, added,
“We’ve shown time and again – if you vote Green, you get Green and in 2024 we came third in vote share in the city. Richard and I are delivering real change for residents every day. With Anita joining us, plus our fantastic candidates in surrounding wards, our team has even more experience, energy and passion to take that work further.”
The Greens, now with over 500 members locally, aim to make Anita the third Green
Councillor for Leigh, and are targeting further gains across Southend in May.