Key Points
- Councillor Guy Lambert, previously a Labour councillor for Brentford West, resigns from Labour in January 2025 citing concerns over local business treatment.
- After nearly 10 months as an independent, Lambert joins the Green Party, becoming the first Green councillor on Hounslow Council.
- Lambert was expelled from the Labour Party for questioning the Labour-led council’s decisions.
- Lambert plans to stand as a Green candidate in the next election, emphasising his commitment to improving Brentford regardless of party politics.
- The Green Party has gained momentum under London Assembly Member Zack Polanski’s leadership.
- Similar Labour resignations and defections have occurred in West London boroughs, including Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Brent.
- Labour Leader of Hounslow, Shantanu Rajawat, affirms the party’s pride in its work and welcomes Lambert’s support for Labour councillors.
What led Councillor Guy Lambert to leave Labour and join the Green Party?
As reported by journalists from MyLondon, Councillor Guy Lambert represents hounslow/brentford/">Brentford West and was originally elected as a Labour councillor in 2015 and re-elected in 2022. However, he resigned from the Labour Party in January 2025, expressing dissatisfaction with how local businesses were being treated in his ward.
Lambert stated in a MyLondon article,
“I was expelled from the Labour Party for questioning decisions made by the Labour-led Hounslow Council. I am concerned about the direction of travel within Hounslow Labour.”
He explained how after being expelled, he considered standing as an Independent Socialist but decided to join the Greens after noting its “more openly left wing policies.” He added,
“I am a person with an independent instinct and my passion is for improving the town, irrespective really of politics.”
Lambert emphasised that his primary focus as a councillor is “the improvement of his ward,” and expressed that the current Labour leadership and its selection process are “deeply flawed.” He hopes Labour will
“rediscover democracy after the 2026 election, perhaps being forced to do so by election results.”
How does Councillor Lambert view the Green Party and its values?
Councillor Lambert praised the Green Party’s principles, as outlined in MyLondon news coverage:
“The Green Party values of honesty, fairness, efficient and competent management, empathy, working for you are principles that I tried to follow within Hounslow Labour.”
He believes his joining the Greens allows him to spread these values more effectively across the council.
What is the reaction of Labour leadership to Lambert’s defection?
Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Hounslow Labour Group, spoke to MyLondon about Labour’s ongoing efforts. He said,
“I am proud of the work Labour are doing in the borough, including on social housing projects in Brentford, and the council’s partnerships with local organisations.”
Despite Lambert’s departure, Rajawat welcomed his support:
“We welcome Councillor Lambert’s support for local Labour councillors across the borough. They will continue to work constructively with the administration in order to help and support their residents and to actually get things done.”
Has the Green Party gained other councillors recently?
The Green Party has been experiencing momentum since Zack Polanski, a London Assembly Member, became party leader. According to MyLondon coverage on November 5, veteran Southwark councillor Kath Whittam also recently left Labour to join the Greens, illustrating an ongoing trend of defections.
Are similar Labour defections happening elsewhere in West London?
Multiple sources including MyLondon report that Labour is facing similar challenges in other West London boroughs. For example, Hillingdon Labour lost five councillors over four months and is now facing competition from the newly formed Hayes Independent Group.
In Hounslow, besides Lambert’s defection, two sitting Labour councillors have resigned but have not yet declared any new party affiliation. Brent borough has also experienced Labour defections following deselections, compounding the party’s challenges in the capital.
What does this mean for local politics in West London?
The defections highlight growing unrest within Labour’s local structures in West London, raising questions about party democracy, leadership, and policies. The Green Party’s gains suggest a possible shift in voter sentiment and councillor allegiance, with the Greens positioning themselves as a credible left-wing alternative.
Councillor Lambert’s move resonates as a call for change, reflecting a broader trend of councillors leaving Labour for other groups amid frustrations with governance and party directions.
