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Following her resignation from Labour earlier this month, Green Party councillors have today welcomed their newest member Jo Sergeant, councillor for Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston. Jo will now be running for re-election as a Green Party candidate.
Jo resigned from the Labour group earlier this month, citing the party was “ focused on power for power’s sake and beset with a culture of fear and bullying”. She also claimed that the current leadership was ignoring the “basic norms of democracy and accountability.”
Commenting on her decision, Cllr Sergeant said, “I’ve been honoured and privileged to represent the residents of Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward for the last five years and I fully intended to stand again this May. Unfortunately, I can no longer do this as a Labour candidate, as I feel the Party has moved away from the values I continue to hold.
“As a Green Party councillor and candidate, I will be free to stand up for my values and for the residents of my ward, without a Party Whip trying to make me toe the line. I am greatly looking forward to being a part of a much more collaborative and friendly political environment. ”
Cllr Eleanor Combley, leader of Bristol’s Green Councillor Group, said,
“As a hard-working, principled councillor, Jo is a natural fit for the Green Group and I am delighted that she has decided to join us. She cares deeply about the communities she represents and works tirelessly to represent their interests.
“Jo is not alone in her feeling that Labour has abandoned them. There are many people across Bristol who feel let down. I will be doing everything I can to support her campaign, and hope others that are feeling disillusioned with the current administration can find a home with the Green party.”
One of the current Green candidates for Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston, Simeon Rowsell, will be standing aside for Jo.