Lewisham Green Party has chosen former Ladywell councillor Ute Michel to be their candidate in their by-election on the 4th of November.
After the resignation of one of the newly elected Labour councillors for Ladywell ward, the by-election will be a chance for the Greens to regain one of the council seats lost to Labour in the elections last May. The Green Party missed out on winning a seat in Ladywell by just 65 votes.
Ute Michel was a Ladywell ward councillor from 2006-2010 and was chair of the ward assembly.
Accepting the party’s nomination as by-election candidate, Ute said:
"I worked hard over four years to help individual residents and the local community, and I would be honoured to serve Ladywell again."
As a councillor, Ute supported local opposition to a betting shop in an area already full of bookies, and campaigned successfully to avoid cuts to social care services. She played a leading role in making Green amendments to Lewisham Council’s budget and challenged council proposals.
Outside of politics, Ute has worked as a research assistant in the European Parliament and for disability organisations and now works in the NHS.
Ute has the backing of the Green Party’s leader, Caroline Lucas MP.
Caroline Lucas said: "As a councillor Ute Michel worked tirelessly for the people of Ladywell and worked tirelessly for a greener and fairer borough. I urge the people of Ladywell to vote Green on November 4th and re-elect Ute as their local councillor."
Darren Johnson, Green councillor for Brockley ward in Lewisham, said: "This by-election will be a straight fight between Greens and Labour. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives were a long way behind last time.
"Quite a few people voted Liberal Democrat last time, expecting a new style of politics. Many of those voters are now feeling betrayed after the Lib Dems have gone into a cuts coalition with Conservatives.
"If just a few dozen people switch over from Liberal Democrat to Green, Ute Michel can win in Ladywell and give residents the strong voice they deserve."