Matt Hartley, the leader of Greenwich Conservatives, has announced his resignation, marking the end of a nine-year tenure that saw the party double its council seats in the May elections. In an email to local party members on Friday, August 7, Hartley confirmed that a new leader will be elected at the party’s next meeting on Monday, August 17.
Hartley’s Achievements and Legacy
Hartley described leading the Greenwich Conservatives as a “real privilege,” having served two separate stints as leader. He took on the role four years ago with the aim of rebuilding the party after the 2022 election losses. “I think we can all be proud of what we’ve done for people in Greenwich since,” he said.
Under his leadership, the group claimed several victories, including removing “millions of pounds of wasteful spending” from the council’s budget, restoring loop trains to the Elizabeth Line from southern borough stations, and securing stronger protections for family homes in the new Local Plan. The group also successfully campaigned to save Coldharbour police base from closure and opposed council proposals such as the Equestrian Centre closure, play centre cuts, and low traffic neighbourhood introductions.
Election Success and Growth
Hartley highlighted the group’s electoral successes, including two by-election victories in 2024 and a strong performance in the May 7 elections, where the Conservative Group doubled its size, fended off a challenge from Reform, and gained two additional seats from Labour. The group now holds six seats in the council, consolidating its control in much of Eltham, although Labour retains overall control of the council.
“Our new, bigger, stronger, Conservative Group is now up and running, and is already making an impact at the Town Hall,” Hartley said. “We have great talents in the group from both newly-elected and returning councillors. So with our turnaround complete, this feels like the natural moment for me to step back and make room for others to lead us forward.”
Opposition Leadership Change
Despite the election gains, Hartley lost his position as leader of the opposition at Greenwich Council following the rise of the Green Party, which grew from two to 13 members. Cllr Tamasin Rhymes now serves as the opposition leader.
In his announcement, Hartley thanked Cllr Charlie Davis for being “simply an outstanding” deputy leader, as well as the wider party and Greenwich Conservative supporters. He expressed his intention to support the new leader and continue his work as a backbench councillor for Mottingham, Coldharbour & New Eltham.
