Zoe is a lifelong Wythenshawe resident living in Woodhouse Park. She manages the food bank at the Dandelion Community Church, and works with the charity Community-Led Action and Savings Support (CLASS) to help women save money and run and join community groups.

Zoe helped create the resident-led Wythenshawe Central Network (WCN) as a response to the upcoming development of Wythenshawe Civic Centre. She is also a commissioner for Social Homes for Manchester, a coalition of organisations focused on sustainably increasing the number of social homes available in Manchester by 2030.

Zoe says: “I’m a single parent living with a disability and was a young carer. I used to believe I couldn’t make change happen, but now I am doing my bit to make other lives better.

“Becoming a Green Party councillor would help me speak up even louder for people in our community who feel they are no longer heard.

“I want to support hardworking families of all backgrounds and help provide a safe, clean and fair future for everyone.”

The Greens will now defend their seat in Woodhouse Park, having held all three council seats in the ward since May 2023.

Woodhouse Park sits at the southern tip of Manchester, right next to Manchester Airport, and is one of the city’s most deprived wards.

Since winning their first seat in Woodhouse Park in 2021, the Greens have focused on tackling poverty and inequality in the ward and improving the area’s green spaces.

The Greens’ focus on local issues has earned them loyal support from residents in the ward, as they have won the last four local elections in a row.

“Seeing Woodhouse Park’s Green councillors working tirelessly with our community to make it safer, greener and fairer inspired me to become a Green Party member,” Zoe added.

“Out of all the parties, it’s the Green Party who are trying to achieve the things I truly believe in, so I’m proud to have been selected to stand for election.”

Zoe’s selection follows the resignation of Green councillor Anastasia Wiest, who has stepped down for personal reasons. 

Anastasia was elected in Woodhouse Park in May 2023 and became Green group leader last year. She has been a probing voice on the Environment, Climate Change and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee, and a fierce opponent to Labour in the council chamber.

The by-election to elect a replacement councillor in Woodhouse Park is expected to take place early this autumn.

Anastasia said: “It’s been a really hard decision to move on, and I’m sorry to be going. I’ve always tried to push for real help for local people and represent their views at the council.

“It’s been an honour to represent Woodhouse Park. I’ll miss the spark and determination of local residents, and I remain committed to fighting for a fairer Britain.”

Cllr Astrid Johnson, leader of the Green group on Manchester City Council, said: “Our small councillor team has always punched above its weight and Anastasia was such a big part of this.

“She had so many fresh ideas on how to improve life for residents in the ward and was deeply connected to the vibrant community groups in Woodhouse Park. We have loved working with her.”

Cllr Rob Nunney, Green councillor for Woodhouse Park, added: “Both Astrid and I will miss Anastasia greatly, and we wish her all the best for the future. 

“We’re delighted to have worked with Zoe in the community over the last year, and we look forward to campaigning for her so she can join us in the Town Hall.”

Image: Manchester’s Green councillors Astrid Johnson (left) and Rob Nunney (right) with new Woodhouse Park candidate Zoe Marlow (centre).

-ENDS-

Notes for editors: 

The Green Party is an opposition party on Manchester City Council with two councillors. The leader of the Green group on the council is Cllr Astrid Johnson.

The two Green councillors on the council are Cllr Astrid Johnson, and Cllr Rob Nunney. Both represent the ward of Woodhouse Park.

Manchester City Council is formed of 86 Labour members, two Greens, four Liberal Democrats, one Worker’s Party member, and two independents.

Cllr Johnson can be available for interview upon request. 

For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens choose local champion to defend council seat appeared first on Manchester Green Party.

Manchester Green Party has selected Thirza Amina Asanga-Rae as its candidate for the upcoming by-election in Baguley ward in Wythenshawe.

The by-election will take place on Thursday 5th September, having been called after one of the ward’s Labour councillors became the MP for Bolton West.

Thirza is a Nigeria-born UK national and a parent governor at a local primary school where she also set up the PTA. As a housing community organiser with GMTU, she has seen first hand the housing crisis we face. She founded a charity that seeks to stop the school to prison pipeline that young people face in inner cities.

Thirza’s passion lies in social justice. This has fueled a lifetime of activism, from representing members as a trade union officer in the railway industry for over 20 years to becoming active in mainstream politics, chairing local women committees and most recently campaigning in local elections.

Thirza stood for us in Manchester Rusholme in July’s general election and came second with a fantastic 23.5% of the vote!

Winning on 5th September would bring the Green Party back up to four seats on Manchester City Council, making us the joint main opposition party once again.

If you’d like to get involved in the campaign and find out about upcoming action days, please get in touch by emailing secretary@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.

The post Manchester Greens launch Baguley by-election campaign appeared first on Manchester Green Party.