LABOUR’S most recent parliamentary candidate in South Herefordshire, who came close to unseating Jesse Norman MP at the last General Election, has now switched to the Greens.

For a period, the face of Labour in the county, Joe Emmett came within 1,279 votes of beating the sitting Conservative in the general election in July 2024, when a huge swing nationally gave Labour a 172-seat majority in Parliament.

But now the teacher, author and parish councillor says he is frustrated and disappointed that the Labour government is not supporting communities, has cut funding for rural areas, and has failed to support farmers or to clean up rivers.

Instead, as the Green Party’s new ‘campaigner’ in the Golden Valley, he aims to champion and celebrate its community, environment and heritage.

“I’ve lived locally with my family for 15 years and worked hard to care for our community,” he said.

“I’ve been actively fighting for affordable housing and cooking for the homeless, while also trying to reduce river pollution, working alongside farmers and landowners to find solutions that meets everyone’s needs,”

He has also recently published New Roots, Ancient Lands, a walking guide to the history of Herefordshire.

His party switch comes less than nine months ahead of key local elections in the county, scheduled for May 6.

But a Green party spokesperson confirmed the party has yet to select any candidates for this.

Meanwhile Mr Emmett’s Green Party opponent at the last General Election, city and county councillor Diana Toynbee, remains within the Independents for Herefordshire group, after being banned from serving as a Green last November over her views on trans issues.

Mr Emmett said during his campaigning in Ross-on-Wye in 2024: “My overriding conclusion is that the town is overlooked in comparison to Hereford. I hope that I can persuade people that I have the vision and passion to serve this South Herefordshire constituency.”