Published: 21 January, 2014
by RICHARD OSLEY

FORMER London mayoral candidate Sian Berry is to stand for the Greens in May’s council elections.

She was named on the slate of candidates who will contest the Highgate target ward, currently split between Labour and the Greens.

The group once held all three seats in Highgate but lost two of them in a Labour fightback at the last borough-wide poll in 2010.

The lone survivor from that result, Councillor Maya De Souza, will also be looking to defend her seat there.

Ms Berry said: “I’ve lived in NW5 since 2001, and first worked with the Greens on the successful campaign to reject a proposed redevelopment of Swain’s Lane shops in 2002 – an issue that never seems to go away. 

“I’m also hugely concerned about the cost of housing, the horrific levels of air pollution we suffer, and preventing even more cuts to services in our area, and I will be campaigning hard on these issues. 

“Camden urgently needs more Green representatives like Maya, making sure voices, issues and principles that don’t otherwise get a fair chance are heard loud and clear.”

The party have also named Kentish Town, Somers Town and Gospel Oak among their key targets.

Candidates were selected at an annual meeting last week.

Ms Berry stood against Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson for Mayor in 2008 but now works for the Campaign for Better Transport charity.