The Green Party has named its candidates for the local elections, riding what it says is its strongest-ever national polling and recent momentum.
They point to a Lord Ashcroft poll that put the Greens joint first nationally and to the by-election win in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester, where the party beat Reform into second and pushed Labour into third.
Locally the Greens are already the second-largest group on Reading Borough Council and say they will be the main challenger to Labour in many wards, with several close contests expected and a real chance to win more seats.
Selected candidates include local Battle Ward campaigner Zoe Mann, A&E doctor David Clarke in Thames Ward and Hannah Conibear in Emmer Green Ward. The team includes people working in healthcare, education, finance, engineering and community support, many active on affordable housing, cleaner streets and better public services.
The party says more councillors would strengthen its ability to hold the council to account and push for practical improvements, from cutting energy bills through home insulation to improving transport and protecting green spaces.
They also point to Electoral Calculus projections suggesting Reading Central could be won by the Greens at the next general election and say electing councillors will help build towards that goal.
"We are seeing something really special happening. Support for the Green Party is higher than ever before, and people are turning to us because they want real change.
"The recent by-election win and national polling show that Greens can win and are winning. That momentum is being felt here in Reading, too, where more and more residents are backing us.
"This election is a clear choice between Green and Labour. With more Green councillors, we can push for truly affordable housing, better public services and a cleaner environment.
"Vote Green on Thursday, May 7, to elect hard-working Greens and send a message to Labour locally and nationally that you want better."
Cllr McCann is standing for re-election.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
