Lloyd Russell-Moyle defects to the Green Party

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the former Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has announced his decision to join the Green Party of England and Wales.

Russell-Moyle, who represented the constituency from 2017 until 2024, was blocked from standing as Labour’s candidate in last year’s general election following what he described as a “vexatious and politically motivated” complaint. The move was widely seen as part of Labour’s leadership strategy to sideline figures on the party’s left. Chris Ward, a close ally of Sir Keir Starmer, was imposed as the Labour candidate and went on to win the seat.

Speaking today, Russell-Moyle said: “For almost ten years I worked alongside Caroline [Lucas] as the MP next door. My old party has left behind millions of people who want hope and want to see change in their lives, their communities and the world around them. In the Greens I see a party that is offering that. I urge others to do so too.” 

The Green Party, under new leader Zack Polanski, has seen a surge in membership and popularity since his election ten weeks ago. Membership has grown by nearly 100,000, bringing the total to over 150,000, and the party is now polling second nationally behind Reform UK. 

Polanski welcomed Russell-Moyle’s move, saying: “Lloyd will bring a huge amount to the Green Party. His story is one that is all too familiar - abandoned in the interest of power and profit over people and principles. Lloyd and tens of thousands like him have not left the Labour Party; the Labour Party has left them.”

In 2018, Russell-Moyle, a prominent advocate for environmental issues, LGBTQ+ rights, and Palestinian solidarity, became the first MP to disclose his HIV status in the House of Commons.