“We live in a one-party state and that has been detrimental to local people”

Neil Doolin made history earlier this month when he became the first Green Party councilor in Seton.

Newly elected councilor Doolin defeated Labor heavyweight Paul Cummins in the Church ward seat with 50% of the vote. It was one of many high-profile victories for the Green Party across the country as it increased its seats by 74 in May’s local elections – taking their total to 181.

Although Labor has increased its overall control of Sefton Council, the loss of one of the top seats would have come as a surprise to many. South Sefton has been a Labor stronghold for the past 18 years, with every seat represented by Labor councillors.

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The reasons for Labour’s defeat in the Church ward are certainly worth investigating, but Cllr Doolin would also like to focus on the achievements of the Green Party. He joked: “Mugs can search their own souls.

“What we (the Greens) have learned from campaigning across the country is that we can have a better impact if we are part of the decision-making processes within local authorities.

“We made the decision to change our strategy with the goal of being elected and having decision-making power at the local level. It’s great to see the plan come to fruition.”

Neil has worked in the NHS for over twenty years and joined the Greens five years ago. He had never been a member of a political party and becoming a councilor was never something he saw on the horizon.

Like many people, Neil became politically activated by the issues that arose after the Conservatives took power in the 2010 general election. Cllr Doolin saw failing and underfunded public services, an ongoing housing crisis and ongoing scandals such as Windrush , Partygate and the Post Office, which left many voters looking for change.

As for the approach to Neil’s victory, the Tory government’s performance only tells part of the story. He said: “I looked at the Labor party these days and saw no place for me. Especially the right turn Labor has taken since Kier Starmer took over.

“They seem to have freed up policy spaces that I think are important, like reducing poverty, better supporting families, and advocating for social and climate justice.”

It is well accepted by all political parties that national issues will arise in (and also shape) local election campaigns. However, this does not mean that local concerns were not the key driver in May’s election and this is a point shared by Cllr Doolin. He said: “People have been very receptive to the Green Party’s message. Our bulletins informed people about issues that the local Labor Party was not telling residents about, such as them planning to demolish the local library and move it to Formby.

“Then there’s the idea of ​​how poor they are at managing flytipping and enforcement rates.

“There was also a sense that Labor had become a clique and as a result there was a lack of control in local politics in Sefton. What I heard on the doorstep was that this was a council that didn’t listen and didn’t listen. represents their opinions.

“We live in a one-party state and that has been detrimental to the locals. So we’re very excited to have made a discovery.”

The Greens accused the local Sefton Labor group of underestimating the strength of feeling on certain climate justice issues and also international affairs such as the war in Gaza. Cllr Doolin also believes the party has underestimated the appeal of the Greens and the growth of their support.

In 2021, the Greens received 20% of the vote in the Church ward. In 2022 and 2023, it was 30% and 40% respectively before winning the seat in 2024 with 50% of the vote. The Greens are also an ambitious group and have now turned their attention to becoming the official opposition in Sefton and already see themselves as the second party.

Asked what residents can expect to see from Cllr Doolin’s first term in office, he said: “I will follow my principles and stand up for the things I campaigned for, including climate and social justice.

“I’ll also be very open and honest about what’s working and what’s not. I’m happy to support things, but I’ll offer a critical voice.”

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