'Something different' - Green Party reveal South Tyneside leaders after 2026 election success

South Tyneside Council's Green Group have formally appointed their new leadership team following the May 2026 local elections.

Last week's "all-out" local elections saw the Greens increase their numbers from nine councillors to ten, becoming the only party outside Reform UK to make gains across the borough.

Reform UK made the biggest gains winning 41 out of the 54 council seats available and taking control of the council, with the final results leaving the ruling Labour Group with just one councillor.

The South Tyneside Alliance Group of independents, which were formerly the official opposition, were reduced to just two independent councillors.

The Green Group is now the official opposition on the council, with party figures stating the election strengthened the Green vote borough-wide, giving the party a strong platform heading into future local and national elections.

Greens say the May 2026 election results "reflect growing anger with establishment politics", with more local people losing trust in the "old party politics of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats" and feeling the parties "no longer speak for their lives, communities or concerns."

The Green Group has now formally appointed its leadership team for the new 2026/27 council year ahead of South Tyneside Council's annual meeting on Tuesday, May 19.

Rachael Taylor, an experienced Green councillor and community campaigner who retained her seat in Biddick and All Saints in last week's elections, will continue as leader of the opposition.

Newly-elected West Park councillor Tony Leather, an experienced HR specialist, was appointed deputy leader of the Green Group.

As official opposition, Greens have pledged to hold Reform UK to account inside the council chamber, make sure residents can see what their new councillors are doing and saying on their behalf and keep fighting for residents on community issues.

Cllr Rachael Taylor, leader of the Green Group, said: "These results show that more and more people across South Tyneside are looking for something different from politics.

"At a time when division and fear are growing, Greens will continue standing up for greener, fairer and more compassionate communities across South Tyneside."

South Tyneside Greens said the party's May 2026 local election results reflected years of community campaigning, local organising and "residents backing councillors who are part of the communities they represent".

The party noted that the South Tyneside Greens are funded by members and "run on community and volunteer power", with "no party bosses telling Green councillors how to vote and no billionaire donors".

South Tyneside Green Party also hit out at Reform UK's politics and said the Green Party would focus on "building around the needs communities here have in common: decent housing, clean water, local services that work, and councillors who answer to the people who elected them".

The statement added the local Green Party "remains answerable to local people, listening to residents, working alongside communities and making sure ordinary people’s voices are heard loudest at the council."