The Lewisham Green Group is now made up of four councillors, all of whom were elected as Labour representatives
Two councillors at Lewisham Council have quit the Labour Party and joined the Greens.
Over the weekend, the Lewisham Green Party announced the defection of two Labour councillors, Cllr Tauseef Anwar and Cllr Rudi Schmidt. Their defections mean the Lewisham Green Group is now made up of four councillors, after Cllr Hau-Yu Tam and Cllr Liam Shrivastava both defected from Labour to the Greens in 2025.
A spokesperson for Lewisham Labour told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We are disappointed that Cllr Schmidt and Cllr Anwar have chosen to leave Lewisham Labour and join the Green Party.
“Residents elected them as Lewisham Labour councillors on a Lewisham Labour manifesto, and it is Lewisham Labour that continues to deliver for Lewisham, building affordable homes, tackling the cost of living, investing in our high streets and leading action on climate and the environment.”
They added: “Our Lewisham Labour Mayor, Cabinet and councillors remain focused on the priorities that matter to residents and on delivering the commitments we were elected to carry out.”
Cllr Schmidt, who is a ward councillor for Evelyn ward, said he could “no longer represent a party that has stopped aligning with my values”.
He added: “The Labour government has failed our community through continued austerity, welfare cuts affecting disabled people, and its complicity on the genocide in Gaza.
“There is another way – the Greens have a plan to address structural inequality, to build local homes with local jobs, to deliver a genuinely caring economy. And only the Greens will challenge the national government, and advocate for a fairer, greener country for everyone.”
On his reasons for defecting, Cllr Anwar said: “My decision to leave Labour did not start today. It began when Keir Starmer justified Israel cutting power and water to civilians in Gaza.
“This is why I have decided to join the Green Party, the only party I believe is now offering a genuine, consistent progressive voice, standing firm on climate, justice, and human rights.”
The LDRS understands Cllr Schmidt intends to re-stand as a candidate for the Green Party for Evelyn ward in the upcoming local elections. He previously served as Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee for two years and was recently a cabinet adviser.
Cllr Anwar will serve the end of his term as a councillor for Crofton Park but won’t be standing in the May elections.
Cllr Anwar has served Crofton Park ward for the last eight years, having been elected in 2018 and again in 2022. He previously served as the Civic Mayor and Speaker for four years.
Over the past few months, more than 50 councillors have defected from other parties to the Greens. In neighbouring Southwark, four councillors have defected from Labour to the Greens since November 2025.
The Lewisham Green Party is the one of the largest Green Party Groups in the country and currently has 3,000 members.
Cllr Shrivastava, who is the Green Mayoral candidate for Lewisham, said: “The Green wave continues. I am absolutely delighted to welcome Cllr Anwar and Cllr Schmidt to the Green Party. They are both supremely talented, hard-working councillors that bring a wealth of experience to the Lewisham Green Group.
“Their decision to leave behind the managed decline of Labour to join the Greens shows the people of Lewisham that we have the vision, credibility and commitment to make real change.”
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