Tag Archives: Sian Berry

Brighton Life, Sian Berry

Sian Berry – November / December 2025

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Why are so many people joining the Greens?  

To say it has been an exciting month for the Green Party would be a dramatic understatement. At the time of writing, we now have 130,000 Green Party members, and an unprecedented rate of new people deciding to join our growing movement since the summer. Our excellent, and now hard-pressed social media team is keeping up the pressure, adding a new ‘record numbers’ graphic almost every day announcing another milestone reached. The most recent was that Greens overtook the Conservative membership count. In Brighton and Hove alone, we have over 3,000 members now, and everyone is so welcome to our united and energised team.  

All our members are delighted at the way our brilliant new leader, and my former colleague in the London Assembly, Zack Polanski, has proved to be the kind of effective communicator that political movements dream of. But what Zack is communicating, a hopeful vision for what our country could look like, has always been at the core of what the Green Party stands for. Zack is not saying anything new in terms of Green views on obscene levels of inequality and the awfulness of the rising cost of living, but he is saying it very, very well.  

In our new party political broadcast, Zack articulated what we have long been saying as a party: other kinds of politicians want us to blame each other for the problems they themselves have caused, but we should be looking to blame instead the very wealthiest people who have hoarded money, power and corporate influence at the expense of our communities, public services, and planet. Why is it always put to us that we must face ‘hard choices’ that affect our public services and working-class communities, while multimillionaires and billionaires get off scot-free, not even being asked to contribute a little more in taxes on their extreme wealth?  

The need to right this long-term injustice is a message that is at last getting through to people in our communities. People are crying out to hear this from the Government, or any opposition party, but the Greens have been the only political team to significantly soar in the opinion polls after our conference, a sure sign that people are fed up of mundane and dismal political messages and love to see a party with confidence and fire in its belly.

Against a backdrop of inflamed tensions across the country and awful intimidation targeted at asylum seekers, our new leadership team was emphatic in its conference speeches: migrants and refugees are welcome here. Our unashamed inclusivity, our willingness to argue that migration is this country’s superpower is what is setting the Green Party apart from the rest and is why so many people here in Brighton and Hove are joining us too.  

My constituents’ steadfast commitment to standing up for the rights of marginalised people in our city is just one of reasons I am so endlessly proud to represent Brighton Pavilion, From the rights of refugees, to speaking up for trans and disabled people, Brighton has always had strong values for standing on the side of the oppressed. I am proud to be a member of a party that does the same.  

And unlike other parties, we are not funded by the fossil-fuel lobby or corporations that want to dictate what we can and cannot say. We work only for the best interests of the public – long and short term – and we work in ways that are bottom up and led by our members. If you join us, from day one you can make a tangible difference, contributing to writing our policies, running for office, adding your ideas to the momentum we are gaining. At the next general election, I cannot wait to see a new wave of Green MPs – who I know will be hard-working, dedicated public servants, because they are already hard-working, dedicated local leaders and campaigners.  

As part of our recent boost in publicity, Greens have been accused of no longer caring about the environment. But we have never been a single-issue party and have always drawn the links between effective climate action and social justice. I joined the Greens 24 years ago exactly because of the party’s strong social policies, including a basic income and respect for marginalised people. Climate breakdown is being drastically accelerated by wealthy countries, billionaires and mega corporations but will disproportionately impact those who have done the least damage. Greens are committed to protecting everyone against food insecurity, health crises and extreme weather, not just those who can pay the most.

There are also hundreds of thousands of high-paid green jobs to be created in the rapidly growing green economy. Expanding the rail and bus network to help us all get around, building a resilient renewable energy network that will lower our bills and bring real security, green agriculture to meet food needs and protect nature. There are long-term jobs to be had, and Greens want to create them. 

A recent poll on voting intention for the next general election put Greens level with Labour for the first time ever. This is a huge achievement showing that it is worth voting Green wherever you live. As thousands more join us every day, what has always been true is coming to the forefront: the Green Party is the party to vote for if you want a government that stands up for everyone’s rights, invests in communities, does not cut but funds welfare properly, acts on climate change and builds a future fit for us all. As Zack brilliantly said in our broadcast: “let’s make hope normal again.”   

Brighton Pavilion, Green Party, Sian Berry

Sian Berry – Nov/Dec 2024

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Since being elected in July, alongside three amazing new Green MP colleagues, I’ve been very, very busy in Brighton and in Westminster, with lots of great Green ideas to put forward, and lots to challenge in my first days as an MP, working across the chamber from a new Labour government.

So far in Parliament, I’ve personally asked 32 written questions, put questions to ministers in the chamber and spoken in debates 11 times, proposed three amendments to Bills, and signed 76 Early Day Motions (EDMs). Green MPs teamed up to propose a King’s Speech amendment as one of our first tasks, and we’ve written to ministers jointly on topics ranging from healthcare to community energy, to taxes and the Budget.

Green MPs worked together to table the first Early Day Motion of this Parliament on bringing water companies back into public hands.

With Carla Denyer, I have also raised concerns about healthcare for young trans constituents directly with Wes Streeting. Many residents have written to me about this issue too, and I’m pleased to have taken action.

Here in Brighton, I have an amazing constituency team and since July, we’ve already dealt with over 500 cases from constituents, held weekly surgeries, visited residents and projects to see problems for ourselves, and written to the council about issues ranging from school closures to planning applications. Issues brought to me by residents in West Hill and North Laine have ranged from anti-social behavior in Zion Gardens, to supporting residents in emergency accommodation and with delays in housing repairs. I’m also in contact with traders in the North Laine who are experiencing long standing issues with theft and shoplifting. On fire safety issues in West Hill and North Laine, I’ve been supporting residents in the New England Quarter and City Point and joined them on ITV calling for action.

At my Parliament office I have been lobbied so far by five constituents in person, and via email I’ve received messages related to campaigns, world events and policies more than 4,000 times on more than 240 different issues. It’s so valuable to get a clear picture like this of what matters most to so many of the people I represent! I’m taking action, supporting campaigns, attending events and writing back to people with the results as quickly as I can while I build up my final Parliamentary staff team.

In the voting lobbies, I have voted ‘AYE’ or ‘NO’ 18 times (abstensions are not recorded). We’ve supported the first stages of several of the Government’s Bills, and are preparing to make amendments to improve them, including on the Great British Energy Bill and the Renters Rights Bill. But seeing the Labour Government vote down two very sensible motions and amendments to get rid of the two-child benefit limit and keep the winter fuel allowance for pensioners was bitterly disappointing.

As four Green MPs we are able to share out the main ‘shadowing’ duty on different departments and each focus on changing particular policies. My main responsibilities are currently to challenge social housing policy, police and criminal justice, work and pensions, culture, media and sport, disabled people, transport and clean air. I have started work on each of these already, and I am also taking up individual issues where Brighton needs action, such as sewage and pesticides.

I was very happy to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, devised by Pesticide Action Network, that would stop public bodies using harmful chemical pesticides in public spaces, streets and gardens and I’m looking for cross-party support to take this issue further.

On housing, I have been pushing for investment in buying not just building council homes, action on the fire safety crisis, plus the need for transparency from housing associations – an area I have challenged the Prime Minister on directly.

On media and culture, I have challenged the council to do more to reduce gambling (and advertising for gambling) in the city, and I’m also doing lots of work supporting grassroots music venues under threat, including the Prince Albert in the North Laine, and working closely with the Music Venue Trust.

On transport I’m making it my mission to address the long standing accessibility challenges at Preston Park Station. I’ve asked questions and have already tabled more coming up. I have already been pushing for an extension to the £2 bus fare cap and, ahead of the Budget, I’ve asked ministers and the Chancellor for more long-term investment for local active travel.

On climate and nature, I’ve met with local Greenpeace members to sign their pledges to keep up the pressure on the new government to bring climate solutions. All four Green MPs are fully behind the newly tabled Climate and Nature Bill.

Throughout all this time, all Green MPs have been pushing for peace, human rights and justice in Israel and Palestine. Locally, after a strong campaign, I was pleased that Brighton’s war plane part manufacturer L3 Harris had its planning decision refused by the council, but there is still no export ban to Israel on parts for the F-35 fighter, and I have been asking questions about why not, working with Campaign Against the Arms Trade.

I was the only MP to join the local response on our streets to the summer’s far right riots and was so proud of Brighton’s clear and positive defence of potential targets in the city and our refusal to accept fascists on our streets. In my maiden speech I praised the young people behind Citizens UK Brighton and Hove and joined them to celebrate their victory in winning a city-wide counselling pilot in Brighton recently.

And finally, a Green on BBC Question Time is historically quite rare, but in July I was asked to go on right after the election, alongside fellow Brighton and Hove MP, Peter Kyle. Carla Denyer was also asked on the programme two months later – which we hope is a good sign for future chances to talk about Brighton on the national stage.

Brighton Pavilion, Green Party, Sian Berry

Sian Berry – Sept 2024

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And just like that, my first month as the MP for Brighton Pavilion comes to a close! What a month it’s been — the whirlwind of the election feels like longer ago than just a few weeks. It’s been remarkable seeing Parliament up close as a newcomer. We all know its reputation as somewhere full of particular processes, rules and traditions, but it’s another thing experiencing them first-hand. Frustratingly, its timetable meant that there were only two weeks of action before Parliament broke up for recess. That feels at such odds with the urgency of the problems that we have in front of us. I was elected to hit the ground running, to take the city’s issues straight to the chamber. 

So that’s what I’ve done. Alongside my Green colleagues we brought the very first Early Day Motion of this Parliament, calling for urgent action to clean our seas and rivers by bringing water companies into public ownership. I spoke on the Government’s Rail Renationalisation bill, welcoming it as an important step forward but suggesting improvements to help it succeed and strengthen. 

Despite the election already feeling like a distant memory, the spirit of the campaign that I was part of here in Brighton Pavilion still feels so alive. While so many MPs may be happy just to campaign every time they need a vote, that just isn’t how Brighton or I operate. Brighton has a rich history of culture, activism and community; its MP cannot just be in Parliament, but has to be out and about in this city, living and breathing it. And I’ve been doing just that.

So I’ve joined activists from the ACORN tenants’ union, supporting their campaign to stop Brighton Council using bailiffs to collect council tax – a cruel practice that we know has a devastating impact on those affected. Groups like ACORN fill me with hope. I’ve always been a renter, and know all too well how helpless and disempowered you can feel having such a fundamental part of your life subject to someone else’s decisions. It’s always a wonderful feeling to be around people so committed to fighting for the rights of all renters.

I’ve also been out to sea, to visit our fleet of wind turbines and hear about the exciting plans to expand the wind farm, which would generate enough electricity to power the whole of Sussex. This community saw off fracking here in Sussex – and now we’re part of a real green future. That’s something I’m massively proud of.

And I went to Trans Pride! It was lovely to be back in such a joyful space, marching alongside Brighton & Hove’s Green councillors to call for respect and healthcare for the trans community who face horrific, dehumanising attacks. Ahead of trans pride, I wrote to the Health Secretary Wes Streeting to express my serious concerns about his statement on puberty blockers. I’ve heard so much pain and concern from young trans people, parents and doctors, and will keep up the pressure on this government to deliver vital trans healthcare. 

When I delivered my maiden speech in Parliament, it gave me the chance to reaffirm my commitment to something that’s been so important to me throughout my career – raising up the voices of young people. It was an honour to speak about the incredible work of Brighton and Hove Citizens, which had just won a huge campaigning victory in getting a commitment from the council for Brighton schools to benefit from investment in mental health support and counselling. 

In that speech I also talked about my pride in Brighton itself, a city I have fallen deeply in love with. We are a city of sanctuary, committed to a culture of hospitality and welcome for those seeking refuge from war and persecution; about the exciting counter-cultural movements that have called Brighton home; about the city’s place at the heart of the green movement. 

As its MP, I have the unique privilege of bringing both the needs and the spirit of Brighton to the House of Commons. I am determined to continue being present across our city, listening to our community and understanding what it needs, so I can take that to Parliament and be your voice.  

Thank you – to everyone who put their faith in me at the election and gave me the chance to speak up for our wonderful city in Parliament. I’ve had just a taste of how brilliant it’s going to be working with my constituents to stand up for Brighton and fight for a fairer, greener future both here and across the country – and I can’t wait to see what else this Parliament will bring. 

Brighton Life, Caroline Lucas, The Green Party

Hoping for a new Green future

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Brighton has the only Green MP in the country and that’s always felt nice. But is this time different? Did we vote for Party or person? Sian Berry tells Jed Novick the name has changed but the message is the same 

We’re sitting in the Green Party HQ just by the station. There’s more people than spaces and where there aren’t people there are cardboard boxes, all spilling leaflets everywhere. Everyone smiles, says “Hello”, asks how I am. 

“Hi Jed, do you want a drink?” says Matt, the man makes all this work. He gives me a glass of water, which suddenly feels a bit awkward because there’s nowhere to put the glass down. The atmosphere is vibrant, chaotic but exciting. It feels like a changing room just before the Cup Final. You can feel the positivity, the energy, there’s also a nervousness that comes partly from being the favourites but, to continue the already tenuous football analogy, the star striker who’s scored the goals that’s got them here has left. There’s a new striker, but… Can she do it? 

The shadow of Caroline Lucas hangs heavy. It’s not a surprise. The Green Party and Caroline have been synonymous for as long as anyone can remember. She’s been the Green MP, the Green face. She’s one of the most recognisable faces in British politics, one of the few politicians that transcend politics. She grew a marginal with a 1,252 majority in 2010 to a 20,000 majority. And now she’s gone. 

That must be a strange feeling, taking over from someone who’s an icon, a celebrity.

“And she’s loved and rightly so. She’s my mentor as well. She’s always encouraged me throughout my career.” says Sian Berry, Caroline’s successor. “And yeah, everyone is sorry to see her go, absolutely. I’m not thinking that I’m inheriting anything. I’m working for every single vote. I’m trying to meet as many people so they know me and they will vote for me. But what I’m finding is that people are sorry to see her go, but would be even sorrier to see her go and lose their Green voice. So people are very, very willing to back me, even though I’m newer to them than Caroline and remember Caroline was new to them once. She’s become this icon over 14 years.”

Sian talks like the Green office feels. Excited and full of “let’s go” energy. She doesn’t so much talk as watch as words cascade out of her mouth. So yes, excited and full of energy, but also ready. She’s been embedded in activist politics since the early 2000s, which is where she came on Caroline’s radar. 

“I’d been running a campaign, the Alliance against Urban Four by Fours. We campaigned outside the vegan shoe shop in the North Laine and did a stall where we were giving out these fake parking tickets which looked like Brighton Hove parking tickets, but said words like dirty and dangerous, and instead of a penalty charge notice, they would say poor vehicle choice, and then it would give information.”

Were you those people who went around letting people’s tyres down?

“Oh, the tyre people. No, that’s not legal, whereas sticking a fake parking ticket under someone’s windscreen is actually legal, and it started a really useful debate in the media. We also had big policy asks, so we wanted the government to change things like vehicle tax, so that if you bought a bigger or heavier vehicle or a more polluting vehicle, you would pay more. And Gordon Brown did do that.”

Sian’s background was in marketing as a medical writer and so knew how to tell a story, “but it was all paid for by big pharmaceutical companies, so I had to stop doing that” and after the 4×4 campaign found herself campaign coordinator for the Greens. She’s stood for Parliament before –  “as a Green, you’re often asked to stand in unwinnable places, just to get the point across” – the first time she was up against Glenda Jackson, the last time was in 2017 against, of all people, Keir Starmer. 

Say you get elected. Can you do much as one Green MP? Caroline’s personal fame allowed her a level of attention, but… Not for the first time I feel Sian getting a little bored with the Caroline comparisons. And fair enough.

“I’m really looking forward to getting the Green voice out, onto the national agenda. We deserve much more time debating with the other parties in the spotlight, because we have a legitimate point of view, and lots of people support it, and it ought to be heard.”

You could be the new voice of Question Time. 

“We deserve so many more slots on Question Time. I think if you add up every appearance a Green has ever made…”

You could change your name to Nigel. They’d never stop asking you.

What specifically for the good folk of Brighton Pavilion, does Sian offer? “I aim to be the best MP I can possibly be, and use Caroline’s work as an absolute model for that. I know how much from talking to people on the doorstep, I know how much they appreciate the excellent constituency work she’s done, the excellent casework. I’ve represented people for a long time, and that combination of listening to people’s problems and helping people overcome the system if they’re having trouble with bureaucracy, if they’ve been treated unfairly, and you can help unlock the path to putting in a complaint and getting it fixed.

“The other job is to be a voice for the city and its concerns and values. I very much want to make the case for water companies to be brought into public hands, and you can see the other parties taking steps along the way now, because the water companies are just getting worse and worse. and it’s so much clearer that bringing them under the way of you know, hopefully a regional democratic control would be, would be absolutely brilliant, and we absolutely have to argue for that. 

I’ve worked for years for a national charity campaigning for better transport. I love public transport. Let’s sort out the buses. Let’s get the trains working. You know, I have knowledge and how to influence that, and then housing, buying, not just building more council homes.”

Sian tells me about various schemes she’s worked on, from grants to upgrade their boilers, to councils buying houses and turning them into council houses. Real ideas that can make a real difference, and a little bit more positive than the incessant “We’ll cut taxes” rhetoric we’re hearing from the big parties.

Away from all this, what do you do when you’re not here?

“I’m been gardening a hell of a lot. It’s so nice. Honestly, we got a good garden. I’ve got a lovely patch that there’s previously been a fruit garden and looked after pretty organically. So I’m sticking I’m trying to grow as much food as possible, basically. During this period, the weeds are definitely going to have a bonanza and the slugs. But it’s, it’s, it’s so nice to at the end of the day, to just hang out there. And you know, it’s fantastic, isn’t it?