Green Party Launches Historic Bid for Bromley Council Seats
The Green Party has unveiled two candidates who could potentially make history by becoming Bromley's first-ever Green councillors. Soney Erten and Jordaine Osaghae, both local mothers and professionals, are standing for election in the Crystal Palace and Anerley ward during the upcoming Bromley Council elections scheduled for May 7, 2026.
Local Moms with Professional Backgrounds
Soney Erten is a lawyer, a new mother, and a coach for neurodivergent professionals who advocates for neurodivergent inclusion. Two years ago, she delivered a TEDx talk in Beckenham about embracing her autism and ADHD diagnosis at age 32. Having spent most of her life growing up and living in the local area, Erten expressed her commitment to making communities safer, fairer, and more supportive for everyone.
Jordaine Osaghae has resided in Crystal Palace for the past decade and works as a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer alongside being a freelance sustainability consultant. She also serves as an ambassador for the Women's Environmental Network and has actively campaigned for free period products in schools.
Campaign Focus on Local Issues
Both candidates have already begun campaigning on key local concerns ahead of the elections. Their platform includes supporting efforts to maintain a climbing wall at the new Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and urging Bromley to follow neighboring boroughs by implementing 20mph speed limits on roads. They emphasize practical solutions to address pressing community needs.
Erten highlighted that residents consistently raise issues about safer roads, cleaner streets, improved community spaces, and a council that genuinely listens to their concerns. She noted that people across the country are turning to the Greens due to dissatisfaction with traditional politics that fail to deliver for local communities.
Osaghae, who is a parent of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), shared her firsthand experience of the challenges families face in accessing support. She stressed the importance of more youth initiatives and safe spaces where young people can grow, connect, and thrive, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting households.
Growing Green Party Momentum in Bromley
The Green Party reports that its membership in Bromley has "soared" since Zack Polanski was appointed party leader in September of the previous year. Membership numbers have more than tripled from 360 at the start of 2025 to 1,241 as of March 25, indicating significant local interest and support.
A spokesperson for the Bromley Green Party expressed delight at announcing Erten and Osaghae as candidates, describing them as hardworking local mothers who will listen to residents and serve as strong, fair, and independent voices for the area. The spokesperson criticized the two main parties for taking Bromley for granted and suggested that many people are switching to the Greens to send a message to political leaders while seeking practical solutions to issues like the cost of living, housing crises, environmental protection, and democratic reform.
Both candidates are confident in their ability to win the Crystal Palace and Anerley seats from the incumbent Labour councillors, positioning themselves as agents of real change and honest leadership for the community's future and the next generation.
