For the first time since standing candidates in the 3 Medway constituencies the Green Party secured enough votes to retain their deposits for all 3 candidates. This success came alongside the doubling of the national vote and increasing the number of MPs from 1 to 4.
Cat Jamieson, the candidate for Rochester and Strood, is keen to thank the voters across Medway: “I would like to say a big thank you for all the encouragement and support I received during the election campaign. It was an absolute pleasure to talk to people on the door step and I appreciate every single vote that was cast for the Green Party.”
Kate Belmonte, Gillingham and Rainham added “Thank you to everyone who voted for real hope and change in Gillingham and Rainham. You helped the Greens to officially become the 3rd party in Medway opposing both Labour and Conservatives ahead of the LibDems. We will continue fighting for people and planet in what is arguably the most critical time for climate action.”
Kim Winterbottom, Chatham and Aylesford, said “Unlike other political parties we don’t take large donations from big businesses so to get an increase in vote share with the help of our supporters from across the many communities of the constituency fills me with hope for the future. I believe that Medway will be following the footsteps of Tonbridge and Maidstone and electing local greens in 2027”.
It was reported that Labour across the country were encouraging people to vote for them rather than the Green Party as a way of stopping the conservatives from being re-elected. Trish Marchant, co-chair of Medway Greens, summarised it as “people holding their noses and voting Labour” although of course with the lowest turnout for many years and the vote split between conservatives and reform the labour vote didn’t change that much from the last election, actual votes increasing between 1000 and 3000 across the 3 elected labour MPs.
Cat feels there is an opportunity to grow more support ahead of the locals: “I was struck by the number of people who align with Green values and policy but who didn’t feel they could vote Green this time under the “first past the post” electoral system, and tactically voted Labour. I look forward to building on our success so that everyone who wants to vote Green can confidently do so in 2027 and have Green representation on Medway Council”.