Haringey moves to Green Party leadership under new minority administration

The Haringey Green Group has officially assumed leadership of Haringey Council, marking a significant shift in the borough’s political landscape. During the Annual Full Council meeting held at Tottenham Town Hall on 20 May, Cllr Mark Blake was confirmed as the new Council Leader. The transition follows a period of political uncertainty after Haringey voters delivered a No Overall Control result in the recent elections.

The Green Party will govern as a minority administration after securing 27 votes in favour of their leadership nomination. Notably, both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups chose to abstain from the vote, and no alternative nominations for the leadership were put forward during the proceedings. This arrangement places the Greens at the helm in Haringey, one of London’s most prominent boroughs, despite not holding an absolute majority of seats.

New leadership confirmed at Tottenham Town Hall

Cllr Mark Blake, the newly elected Leader, addressed the council with a call for cross-party collaboration. He emphasized that the current political and financial climate requires a departure from traditional partisan friction. Blake stated that he intends to work with other parties in a spirit of cooperation to serve the residents of Haringey, noting that the borough’s circumstances demand a unified approach.

The administration takes over at a time when local government finances are under extreme scrutiny. Blake acknowledged the “severely challenging financial position” facing the council, specifically highlighting structural pressures within social care, children’s services, and the rising costs associated with temporary accommodation. He committed to rebuilding public trust through transparency and what he termed “sound stewardship.”

Green Party cabinet members and portfolios

The Haringey Green Group has established a diverse cabinet to manage the borough’s essential services. The leadership structure includes a co-deputy model and a rotating portfolio for health services, reflecting the group’s internal organizational preferences.

The full Cabinet appointments are as follows:

• Cllr Ruairidh Paton: Co-Deputy Leader
• Cllr Tammy Hymas: Co-Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing
• Cllr Jo Kuper: Cabinet Member for Resident Services
• Cllr Johann Beckford: Cabinet Member for Finance & Corporate
• Cllr Erin Wolson: Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure
• Cllr Gio Iozzi: Cabinet Member for Climate Action
• Cllr Georgia Twigg: Cabinet Member for Children and Schools
• Cllr Tehseen Khan and Cllr Hannah Ward: Cabinet Members for Health & Social Care (rotating role)
• Cllr Dixie-Ann Joseph: Cabinet Member for Placemaking
• Cllr Ata Berk Aksit: Cabinet Member for Communities

Financial challenges and administrative priorities

The scale of the financial gap in Haringey means the new administration must find ways to work differently. The focus on housing, managed by Cllr Tammy Hymas, will be particularly critical given the current pressures on temporary accommodation across London. Similarly, the finance portfolio held by Cllr Johann Beckford will involve navigating the difficult balance between maintaining frontline services and addressing the council’s structural deficit.

Cllr Blake indicated that the task ahead is substantial, requiring humility and determination. The administration’s success will likely depend on its ability to pass budgets and key policy initiatives while relying on the cooperation or at least the continued abstention of the opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat groups.

Mayoralty and scrutiny committee appointments

While the Greens lead the executive cabinet, other parties have taken key civic and oversight roles. Cllr Dawn Barnes of the Liberal Democrat Group was elected as the Mayor of Haringey following a close vote. Her nomination received support from both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, and she will hold the borough’s civic leadership role until May 2027.

Cllr Makbule Gunes of the Labour Group has been confirmed as the Deputy Mayor. Furthermore, the council’s oversight mechanisms will be led by the opposition. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be chaired by Cllr Lucia das Neves (Labour), while the Strategic Planning Committee will be chaired by Cllr Scott Emery (Liberal Democrat). This distribution of roles ensures that while the Greens manage the day-to-day administration, the opposition maintains significant influence over planning decisions and the scrutiny of executive actions.

Source: Haringey Council

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Source check Political Reporting Standards

This report is based on official minutes and announcements from the Haringey Council Annual General Meeting.

Checks

• Verified Cllr Mark Blake's appointment as Council Leader.
• Confirmed vote counts and abstention status of Labour and Liberal Democrat groups.
• Cross-referenced cabinet portfolio assignments with official council records.

Haringey Council Newsroom Check Haringey Council election results

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Haringey Council Newsroom

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Haringey

Updated

2026-05-27 19:39

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Article contextPeople & topics3#6

Mark BlakeDawn BarnesRuairidh Paton

#Green Party#Haringey Council#Local Government#London Politics#Mark Blake#Tottenham Town Hall

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