Lambeth Council Green candidates suspended after arrest claims

Two Green Party candidates were arrested over alleged anti-Semitic social media posts during the lambeth council election campaign, putting the party under pressure in a borough Labour has controlled since 2006. Saiqa Ali and Sabine Mairey were later suspended from the party.

The arrests became a doorstep issue in Lambeth, where an elderly voter said anti-Semitism was the reason they would not vote Green. On 3 May, a Labour Party social media post showing Sabine Mairey leafletting quickly went viral, widening attention on the campaign days before polling on 7 May.

Steve Reed and Lambeth Greens

Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary and former leader of Lambeth Council, criticized the Greens’ handling of the anti-Semitism and accused them of failing to act decisively. He had previously led Lambeth Council, which has been under Labour control since 2006.

A Lambeth Greens spokesperson said, “The Green Party is an anti-racist party, and we have robust internal processes to look into any conduct which is not in line with our values.” The spokesperson added, “We cannot comment further while a police investigation is ongoing.”

Michael Chessum in Brixton Acre Lane

Michael Chessum was the Green Party candidate for the Brixton Acre Lane ward in the upcoming local elections, with Dario Goodwin and Nat Kane as his co-candidates for the central Lambeth ward of Brixton Acre Lane. On Thursday in late April, Chessum campaigned in Brixton with fellow Green candidates.

Zack Polanski said he would work to strengthen candidate vetting processes. Suspended candidates are forbidden from campaigning for the Green Party, and the central Green Party was expected to contact Sabine Mairey to remind her of the rules.

The episode left the Greens defending both their candidate checks and their handling of the arrests as polling approached, while Labour used the viral image to put the issue back in front of voters.