OK, so I do not normally write about politics in this journal and The Ipswich Society strives to be non-political, but it is probably worth recording that in the May 2023 local elections the Green Party had sufficient success in both East and Mid-Suffolk that they now have effective control of the councils. Given that rural Suffolk has been staunchly tory since local government reorganisation in 1974 (and in some cases for decades before then) this marks a major change.

In Mid Suffolk the Greens, having won the majority of seats, have overall control of the Council.  In East Suffolk – formerly the two districts of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney – the Greens are sharing control with the Liberal Democrats, the Greens have 16 seats, the Lib Dems 11 against the Conservatives’ 15 and Labour’s 12.

What makes this Mid Suffolk win so momentous is that it marks the first time that the Greens have won outright control of any local authority anywhere in the United Kingdom and according to party leader Carla Denyer anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Greens were so confident of success in Mid Suffolk that, before the elections, they launched their national manifesto in Stowmarket. They were predicting that they would gain five seats. Following the count they had increased their seat numbers by twelve to 24 (against a total opposition of 10). However, it is worth pointing out that voters in Mid Suffolk are probably not Water Melon Greens (Green on the outside, but red inside), they have been described in the national press as Mangos, Green on the outside, orange within, suggesting an alliance with the Lib Dems, as is the case in East Suffolk. 

The Mid Suffolk Greens, according to their manifesto support an ecologically sustainable society, environmentalism, social justice, and grassroots democracy. We await with interest the changes the new administration will bring.

JN

Next article