Green Party Holds on to Seat in North Acton

Marijn van de Geer voted in as councillor after colleague's resignation

Marijn van de Geer. Picture: Ealing Green Party

June 26, 2026

The Green Party has retained a seat on Ealing Council after Marijn van de Geer won the North Acton by-election on Thursday 26 June.

The by-election was called after the abrupt resignation of newly elected Green councillor Simon Anthony, who stepped down just days after winning the ward in the 7 May local elections. His departure — citing an inability to carry out the role — forced voters back to the polls only seven weeks later, turning North Acton into an unexpected summer battleground.

Polling took place at Greenford Hall, with turnout recorded at 24.2%.

Cllr Van de Geer, a community organiser and former Extinction Rebellion activist, topped the poll with 804 votes, strengthening the Greens’ foothold in the west of the borough. Labour's former Chief Whip Gareth Shaw finished second, while the Liberal Democrats secured a strong third-place showing. The Green Party’s vote share did decrease by 2.8 per cent compared to their win on 7 May.

Labour’s Mr Shaw had been a councillor in the Walpole ward, however he was moved to South Acton for the local elections, after there were concerns that his original ward would be lost. Eventually, both wards were lost, and Mr Shaw was unseated, coming fifth.

This time around he came second, however he received a lower share of the vote than Labour’s fourth placed candidate in May, Guneet Singh Malik. Mr Malik, who was snubbed in favour of Gareth Shaw at the by-election, received 29.9 per cent of the vote, compared to Shaw’s 24.1 per cent in May.

North Acton by-election result (26 June 2026)

Cllr van de Geer said she was “thrilled to be new new councillor for North Acton”. She added: “I am so grateful to everyone who voted for me, for their kindness on the doorstep (including offerings of cups of tea, cold water and ice lollies) and for everyone’s patience while they were bombarded with leaflets and canvassers.

“There are a lot of challenges facing North Acton and I know I am going to have to work very hard. But with such an incredible local community behind me as well as the wonderful Ealing Greens, I know I am up to the task. I can’t wait to get started and help out as much as I possibly can.”

Since joining the Green Party, Cllr van de Geer has stood in the Ealing council elections several times and was also the London Assembly candidate for Ealing and Hillingdon in 2021. She is an Ealing resident of over 17 years, and says she is an active climate activist, cycles everywhere on her Dutch bike, and fosters cats for a local animal rescue charity.

Gareth Shaw told the LDRS that the result was “disappointing”. He said: “The by-election was fought in the fiercest temperatures over the last week, with the hottest polling day ever yesterday.

“I would like to thank everybody who voted and made their voice heard. I would also like to thank the council election staff for making it possible in these challenging conditions. Congratulations to newly elected Cllr van de Geer.

“It was a hotly contested election won by quite a narrow margin. While the result is disappointing personally I know that North Acton ward remains in very good hands under the Labour-run council and ward councillors Blerina Hashani and Hodan Haili.

“I have lived and worked in the borough for over 20 years and represented residents for 12 years. Last night’s result does not change my commitment to the community I love. I will continue to work for a better borough for everybody here.”

The win brings the Green group back to five councillors, matching the Conservatives and consolidating the party’s growing presence in Acton and Hanwell. Labour remains the dominant force on Ealing Council with 46 seats, followed by the Liberal Democrats on 13, while one Independent councillor completes the chamber.

North Acton has become one of Ealing’s most politically fluid wards. Labour held it comfortably for years until the Greens captured it in May, only for the seat to fall vacant almost immediately. The by-election result confirms that the ward remains highly competitive, with three parties polling over 500 votes.

Written with contributions from Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter