Labour leader for just days, McAsh is ready to work to form coalition with his old party

Former Labour councillor James McAsh, now leader of the Southwark Greens after his party won 22 seats in the 2026 local elections, has confirmed that outreach to other parties has begun, writes Rich Brann.

Out of the three leaders who can form a coalition to run Southwark Council, he was the only one to agree to an interview with the News.

The Greens more than quadrupled their seat numbers in the borough after multiple defections from Labour's top team in the last year and a collapse of Labour’s previously long-standing majority.

New Green councillors Catherine Dawkins, Claire Sheppard and Richard Taylor. Credit: Rich Brann

However, with a coalition possible between any of Labour, the Lib Dems or the Greens to secure control of the council, the major parties all face the possibility of being in the opposition.

Southwark Green Party leader McAsh said: "We are open to working with both of the major parties and I have reached out to both Labour and the Lib Dems."

"People are ready for change and there are significant areas where the Greens overlap with both parties...I’m very keen to hear from them."

Labour leader and current council leader Sarah King was approached for comment, but has so far refused to give an interview.

James McAsh and Sarah King. Credit - Southwark Labour

Reacting to the local elections in a press statement, Lib Dem leader Victor Chamberlain said: "We're pleased to be returned with a bigger group to Southwark Council, with a new team that has considerable experience in its ranks.

"Our absolute priority right now is Southwark residents in these volatile and difficult times - we're prepared to work with any combination of councillors to make that change they've called for a reality."

When asked where the Greens might refuse to compromise on policy, McAsh specified that policies that reduced carbon emissions would be a starting point, but could not clarify further.

Speaking on differences with the Labour Party, he said: "The biggest area of tension would be on the need to stand up to the national Labour government - there's an £80m funding black hole facing Southwark, and that's something that all of us in the Green Party are concerned about and would want to put up a fight against."

James McAsh left Labour in February in hostile circumstances, after his short-lived 2025 election as leader was overturned and the election re-run, with Sarah King winning the leadership contest instead, sparking the defection of former mayor and long-time party member Kath Whittam among others.

He described the blocking of Andy Burnham as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election as being the tipping point for his later decision to defect.

His re-election last week and later election as overall Leader may appear to be a surprise to some given his relatively new membership, with long-standing activist Claire Sheppard made Deputy Leader.

However, Sheppard in fact declined to stand for the leadership, clearing the way for McAsh's elevation.

Speaking at Friday's count, McAsh said: “I was elected in 2018 and 2022 as a Labour councillor, yes, but my politics haven’t changed in this time, my values haven’t changed – I think the Labour Party’s politics and values have changed.

“I’m really proud of my record of casework on the ground in Goose Green and I’m really excited to be doing that now with my wonderful two Green Party colleagues.”

Green policies in Southwark include a demand that developers build at least 35 per cent of their houses as affordable, free bus pass trials for young people, and reduced traffic on neighbourhood streets in the borough.

McAsh advocated for a new approach to the regeneration of the long-suffering Aylesbury Estate, saying: "It is clear that attempts at regeneration have failed."

He added: "As a Green group we do want to actually deliver social housing...it may be a combination of new homes and retrofitting, potentially."

Another key policy proposal has been a 'Green wave' system for buses, used for trams elsewhere in Europe.

McAsh said: "We want to get people onto public transport, but people choose not to take the bus because they're too long and unreliable - by using cameras and AI we can introduce a 'green wave' so that when a bus hits a light, it'll be green."

Clarifying TfL's need to work with the council on this, he said: "Where there's any work done on highways, TfL are key stakeholders, but this is entirely in their interest.

"We're ready to work with them, though I wouldn’t see it as a negotiation but rather as a collaboration - there's every reason to think they would be in support of it."

Previous attempts at implementing greener policies in Southwark have not always been easy.

As Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air & Streets, James McAsh in 2023 retracted a plan to implement a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Dulwich after a residents’ group campaigned ardently against the measure.

The transformation of the Green Party into a key part of Southwark politics comes amidst a wider national growth in support for Zack Polanski's party.

On the national leader making headlines, McAsh said: "We have to judge him on his performance - under him, the party has grown four times in terms both of membership and polling – he’s led us to the best membership we’ve ever had."

And McAsh confirmed too that the national Green Party was offering resources and support in dealing with future negotiations and potentially launching an administration in Southwark, but that they would not be 'intervening on a policy basis.'

As outreach and negotiations between the three major parties continue it may be some time before it becomes clear who will lead and control Southwark Council.

Victor Chamberlain

On election night, Sarah King and Victor Chamberlain were deep in conversation as it became clear that the council was headed for no overall control, and a Labour/Lib Dem coalition may well be the most likely outcome for a future administration.