The chair of Surrey Heath Constituency Labour Party has resigned from his post – after becoming a member of the Green Party.
Prior to standing down, Charlie Wilson had expressed the hope that he could belong to both political parties. But Labour Party rules do not allow this, forcing the 20-year-old to leave his position.
“Perhaps the Greens don’t mind but Labour is super tribal about it” he said on Wednesday evening.
Mr Wilson bought a Green Party Membership on Monday 14th November, prompting discussion on a WhatsApp group run by Young Green Party activists.
Asked to comment, Mr Wilson initially said he hoped he could maintain Green and Labour membership. He said: “I still have faith in the Labour project, and I think there are a lot of very nice local people that are making me stay in the party”.
“I’m more inclined to stay in Labour with a possible dual membership than I would be to leave entirely and then join the greens and purely because I still have faith.”
It was since made clear to him by Labour Party councillors this would not be possible. Labour Party Rules state having a membership to another party is a “prohibited act”.
Mr Wilson explained that he has “a sense of hope” in Green Party leader Zack Polanski, something he believes is shared by other young people: “I think the green party has done well to attract a lot of our young people. Polling suggests 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds would vote Green”.
As for Labour, he added: “I think their stance on immigration and Palestine and some of their climate goals could be much more courageous and confident”.
Speaking exclusively to Professor Sir John Curtice, the BBC’s election expert, said politics in the UK was now “unprecedentedly fragmented”.
“The historic two-party dominance of our politics, for the time being at least has largely disappeared,” he said. “There were already signs in last year’s general election of the Greens advancing in particular amongst that age group (18-24)… Labour’s fundamental problem is that they lack a sense of direction. And therefore, they’re being flaked away in both directions”.
A Green Party Spokesperson said: “Young people are one of the driving forces behind this surge. We now have 40,000 Young Greens, which makes this the largest youth and student movement in UK politics – and the biggest Young Greens group in Europe. Indeed, the Green Party is now the most popular party with under-50s.”
After contacting both Labour Party Councillors in Surrey Heath, Councillor Jonathan Quinn said he was “not able to comment as it’s not a council related issue”. The other Labour Councillor has not responded. The central Labour Party have not responded to a request to comment.
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StandfirstSurrey Heath Constituency Party chair resigns after purchase of Green Membership
The chair of Surrey Heath Constituency Labour Party has resigned from his post – after becoming a member of the Green Party.
Prior to standing down, Charlie Wilson had expressed the hope that he could belong to both political parties. But Labour Party rules do not allow this, forcing the 20-year-old to leave his position.
“Perhaps the Greens don’t mind but Labour is super tribal about it” he said on Wednesday evening.
Mr Wilson bought a Green Party Membership on Monday 14th November, prompting discussion on a WhatsApp group run by Young Green Party activists.
Asked to comment, Mr Wilson initially said he hoped he could maintain Green and Labour membership. He said: “I still have faith in the Labour project, and I think there are a lot of very nice local people that are making me stay in the party”.
“I’m more inclined to stay in Labour with a possible dual membership than I would be to leave entirely and then join the greens and purely because I still have faith.”
It was since made clear to him by Labour Party councillors this would not be possible. Labour Party Rules state having a membership to another party is a “prohibited act”.
Mr Wilson explained that he has “a sense of hope” in Green Party leader Zack Polanski, something he believes is shared by other young people: “I think the green party has done well to attract a lot of our young people. Polling suggests 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds would vote Green”.
As for Labour, he added: “I think their stance on immigration and Palestine and some of their climate goals could be much more courageous and confident”.
Speaking exclusively to Professor Sir John Curtice, the BBC’s election expert, said politics in the UK was now “unprecedentedly fragmented”.
“The historic two-party dominance of our politics, for the time being at least has largely disappeared,” he said. “There were already signs in last year’s general election of the Greens advancing in particular amongst that age group (18-24)… Labour’s fundamental problem is that they lack a sense of direction. And therefore, they’re being flaked away in both directions”.
A Green Party Spokesperson said: “Young people are one of the driving forces behind this surge. We now have 40,000 Young Greens, which makes this the largest youth and student movement in UK politics – and the biggest Young Greens group in Europe. Indeed, the Green Party is now the most popular party with under-50s.”
After contacting both Labour Party Councillors in Surrey Heath, Councillor Jonathan Quinn said he was “not able to comment as it’s not a council related issue”. The other Labour Councillor has not responded. The central Labour Party have not responded to a request to comment.
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