The Green Party in Greenwich has pledged to uphold its "absolutely crucial" role of scrutinising decisions made by the Labour-controlled council over the next four years. The Greens secured 13 councillors in last week's elections, increasing their seat count by 11 and surpassing the Conservatives to become the main opposition group in the South London borough. Among their newly elected councillors is a voice actor who portrayed eight different characters in the popular video game Baldur's Gate 3.
New Leadership and Mandate
Tamasin Rhymes, who became the sole Green councillor in Greenwich after winning the Shooters Hill by-election last June, retained her seat in the full council elections. Now the newly elected leader of the Greens, she expressed being "hugely proud" of the campaign, which built significantly on their single seat less than a year ago. Cllr Rhymes stated that voters gave the Greens a clear mandate to effectively scrutinise and challenge council decisions, saying: "We're pushing for better scrutiny and an examination of things that have gone through easily because Labour had its votes. Okay, it's not all going to go our way, but we can push a bit harder."
Before the election, Labour held a massive majority with 47 seats, leaving only eight councillors from other parties. Now reduced to 35 seats, Labour faces a stronger opposition. Cllr Rhymes noted that one-party control for so long can lead to complacency, adding: "Just showing everybody that lives in Greenwich that everything is being looked at properly gives them confidence in what goes on and what gets decided."
Background of Tamasin Rhymes
Tamasin Rhymes, a long-time Green Party member and parent, began her career in theatre and television but now manages a charity in Bromley. She decided to run for office after getting involved in local projects in Shooters Hill, including planting a community orchard, helping at her children's schools, and setting up a borough-wide network to support small environmental projects. She explained: "Not because I had any desire to be in politics, but because those things needed either support or fixing."
David Monteith: Accidental Candidate
David Monteith, elected to represent Plumstead Common, described himself as an "accidental" candidate and not a "political animal." He worked for 25 years in the social sector with young people facing homelessness, addiction, and antisocial behaviour. Now a professional voice actor, his most notable work includes voicing eight characters in the 2023 video game Baldur's Gate 3.
What drew Monteith to local politics was the council's decision to change how adventure play centres (APCs) operate. He led the campaign to keep supervised provision at all five centres, speaking at meetings and organising community events. He said he was "appalled" by the "toxicity" the council showed residents regarding the APC decision: "For the first time, I spent time in the council chamber... I was absolutely appalled at what I saw not just in terms of approach to the work, but the toxicity in the way in which the current council addressed not even its opposition but also the public."
Monteith added: "I just talk too much for my own good, so in the end people started to encourage me to stand and I ended up here quite by accident, just appalled at what I'd seen." Cllr Rhymes echoed this sentiment, noting that many new councillors share a passion for change in how the public is treated and consulted.
Key Issues for the Greens
The Greens plan to raise several issues at Greenwich Council, including the impact of the Renters' Rights Act on local tenants, addressing the rise in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and demanding greater fiscal transparency to distinguish between statutory obligations and discretionary spending. They will also challenge the council's sale of the Greenwich Equestrian Centre, an Olympic Legacy Project potentially sold to private developers.
Cllr Rhymes promised to work towards making life more affordable for residents, whether through social housing that delivers good homes or encouraging businesses to adopt the London Living Wage. She said: "A lot of these things align with the council strategy and their stated aims anyway, so we will be pushing as hard as we can to make sure those things happen in a timely fashion. Beyond that, for me, it's really just making sure people are listened to."
