Two Welsh Councillors Switch Allegiance to the Green Party

Two prominent Welsh councillors have officially joined the Green Party, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Wales. Former Carmarthenshire County Council member Robert James and former Caerphilly Council leader Sean Morgan have made the switch, citing disillusionment with their former party, Labour.

Cllr Morgan, who stepped down as leader of Caerphilly council in September during the Senedd by-election campaign, has been a Labour member for 40 years. He criticized the party for failing to uphold its general election commitments and accused it of being “complicit in genocide” in the Middle East. Morgan specifically pointed out concerns over Labour’s candidate selection process for the upcoming by-election in Caerphilly, where Labour council deputy leader Jamie Pritchard was overlooked in favor of Richard Tunnicliffe, a Welsh language publisher who ultimately finished third in the election. The by-election was won by Plaid Cymru‘s Lindsay Whittle, with Reform UK in second place.

Cllr James was previously suspended from the Labour Party in 2024 and had been serving as an independent councillor. James had led the opposition group at Carmarthenshire Council for nearly six years. Following his suspension, he expressed intentions to contest the decision, though Welsh Labour did not provide any comments on the matter.

Both councillors’ defections contribute to the Green Party’s growing influence, which is now represented on 10 of Wales’ 22 councils. Cllr James stated, “During a time when our communities are the most divided in decades and the struggles our residents face continue to grow, I have joined a party that puts people and this planet first.” He emphasized the need for tackling inequality, protecting public services, and safeguarding the environment.

Cllr Morgan echoed similar sentiments, asserting that “the Labour Party no longer represents the values of ordinary party members or indeed ordinary people in the country.” He noted that recent developments within Labour compelled him to reassess his affiliation with the party. After reviewing the Green Party manifesto and listening to its leader, Zack Polanski, Morgan found a political home focused on creating a fairer society.

Polanski recently visited Wales, where he met with Anthony Slaughter, the leader of the Welsh Green Party. Slaughter is campaigning for a seat in the Senedd elections scheduled for May 2026. Current polls suggest that the Green Party is poised to secure its first seat in the Welsh Parliament, with Slaughter as a leading candidate in Caerdydd Penarth. There are optimistic projections that the party may achieve more than one seat in the upcoming election.

Slaughter remarked, “With the fully proportional Senedd voting system in May, this is another sign Greens will be pivotal in who runs the Welsh government next year.” The recent defections of high-profile councillors further bolster the Green Party’s ambitions as it seeks to expand its representation and influence in Welsh politics.