The Green Party became the joint second largest party on the Oxford City Council after independent councillor, Edward Mundy, joined the party on Monday 12th January. This brings the number of Green Party seats to nine, equal to that of the Liberal Democrats.
Mundy, who was first elected as a Labour Councillor for the Holywell Ward in October 2021, was one of nine Oxford councillors who left the party in October 2023 after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel had the “right” to cut off water and electricity in Gaza. He has since been part of the Oxford Community Independents Group, formerly the Oxford Socialist Independents. Mundy told Cherwell: “The Labour Party has left a lot of people over the last couple of years, and I’m one of them.”
According to ‘Green Elects’, an independent organisation reporting Green Party news, 19 councillors have left Labour for the Green Party in England and Wales since Zack Polanski was elected as the party leader in September 2025, not including Mundy.
In a press release, Mundy said: “While the far right is emboldened and clearly influencing government policy, it is vital that we have credible socialist voices at the heart of our communities. The Green Party has an excellent base of political support in Oxford, thanks to years of backing a more sustainable and equal future for the city.
He told Cherwell: “Activists and leading Green Party figures – most notably Zack Polanski – are consistently and robustly standing up for progressive principles.”
Munday was formerly the Labour Group whip for two years and served as Chair of the General Purposes Licensing Committee for four years. He is currently Vice Chair of the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee.
Chris Jarvis, leader of the Green Party Group on Oxford City Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Ed to the Green Party. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Ed over the last four years and have seen how dedicated he is to the people of Oxford and working to make our city a fairer and better place to live.”
Jack Hutchinson, president of the Oxford Student Greens Association, told Cherwell: “People are beginning to realise that other national political parties can’t or won’t represent them. Over the past decade Labour has stopped prioritising progression in favour of pandering to the ultra-wealthy donors that prop them up. Progressive voters and politicians that are unhappy with this have found that the Green Party will welcome them with open arms.”
As of 9th December 2025, the Green Party had over 180,000 members, more than double the number it had when Polanski was elected. In late December, one voting intention poll by Politico put the party at 16%, level with Labour and 2 points behind the Conservatives.
Labour remains the largest party on the Oxford City Council, with 21 seats. Councillor Susan Brown, leader of the Labour Group and of the City Council, confirmed in a statement to Cherwell that the party was aware of Mundy’s defection.
