Adrian Ramsay

Adrian Philip Ramsay is a British politician who has served as co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2021 and as the Member of Parliament for Waveney Valley since 2024. He was previously the deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2008 to 2012. He served as a Norwich City Councillor from 2003 to 2011. He worked as chief executive of the Centre for Alternative Technology from 2014 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2024 was CEO of MCS Charitable Foundation.

Ramsay was the successful Green parliamentary candidate for Waveney Valley at the 2024 general election and became the first Green MP for a seat in the East of England. This marked the first time that both Green Party co-leaders were elected to Parliament, and he also became the first ever male MP for a Green party in the United Kingdom.

In 2025, Adrian Ramsay announced that he was standing for re-election as the Co-leader of the Green Party along with Ellie Chowns.

Early life and education

Ramsay was born and brought up in Norwich. He was educated at City of Norwich School, graduated from the University of East Anglia with a first class degree in politics, and went on to study for a master's degree.

Political career before entering Parliament

Norwich

Ramsay was first elected to Norwich City Council representing Henderson Ward in May 2003, representing the Green Party. Aged 21, he was one of the youngest councillors in the UK. Later that year, he spoke at a demonstration against tuition fees in the United Kingdom. Ramsay was re-elected in June 2004 for Nelson Ward.The Green Party in Northern Ireland : ''Student to challenge Education Secretary for Commons seat''
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In a BBC article from May 2006, Ramsay was described as "pursuing a full-time career through his council work on a £9,500 annual allowance". In 2007, he was elected for a third time. In 2010, he was serving as the leader of the opposition to the Labour council. At the 2011 local elections, he did not seek re-election to Norwich City Council.

Green Party deputy leader

Ramsay was elected unopposed as the first deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales on 5 September 2008. In 2009 he made a speech at the party's conference calling for the end of private finance initiative agreements in the NHS. He was re-elected as Deputy Leader in the 2010 leadership election with 73.4% of the vote. He was speculated as a possible successor to the party's first leader, Caroline Lucas, but did not stand in the 2012 leadership election nor seek re-election as deputy leader.

Co-leader of the Green Party

On 16 August 2021, Ramsay announced his candidacy for co-leader of the Green Party alongside the Bristol councillor Carla Denyer. He said that the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report had motivated him to return to politics. The pair's joint candidacy emphasised professionalising the party and winning a second Green MP and a first Green Member of the Senedd (MS). The announcement that the pair had been elected was made on 1 October 2021.

In 2023, Ramsay defended local Green Party politicians who block solar farms, saying that while the Green Party sees "an important role for solar farms as part of the mix... The olarapplication has to be considered on its merits."

Parliamentary career

Ramsay stood as parliamentary candidate in the Norwich South constituency in the 2005 general election. He came fourth, with 7.4% of the vote (3,101 votes).

Ramsay stood for Norwich South again in the 2010 general election. The party's leader, Caroline Lucas, cited him as one of the Green candidates with the greatest chance of winning. Ramsay came in fourth place with 14.9% of the vote (7,095 votes). He co-organised Lucas's campaign in Brighton Pavilion which saw her elected as the UK's first Green Member of Parliament (MP).

At the 2024 general election, he was elected MP for Waveney Valley with 20,467 votes (41.7%) and a majority of 5,593 over the second-placed Conservative candidate. There were six candidates and a 69% turnout. He became the first Green MP for a seat in the East of England. This marked the first time that both Green party Co-leaders were elected to parliament. He became the first ever male MP for a Green party in the UK. He was also one of the first five Green MPs overall: Lucas retired after fourteen years as an MP, with successful Green candidates Siân Berry, Ellie Chowns, and Ramsay's co-leader Carla Denyer joining him as first-time MPs. Nationally, Labour formed a majority government with Keir Starmer taking office as Prime Minister.

Shortly after assuming office, Ramsay voiced opposition to plans by the new government to build a 100-mile corridor of pylons to connect his Suffolk constituency to offshore wind power. Ramsay said he was in favour of considering other options, including an offshore grid. This led to allegations of NIMBYism, including from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. Responding to the allegations in an interview on LBC, Ramsay claimed he was representing concerns of his constituents.

Following the Supreme Court ruling on '' For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers'', Ramsay said he supported the ruling. Asked if he believed trans women are women, he did not explicitly agree or disagree. He also said that he believed members of the Green Party shouldn't be expelled from the party for anti-trans views. In response to this, the Young Greens published a statement with their disappointment in Ramsay's comments.

On 8 May 2024, green co-leader Carla Denyer announced on 8 May she would not seek re-election in the 2025 party leadership election so as to focus on her work as an MP. This meant that Adrian Ramsay would either have to seek another co-candidate, or stand as a single lone candidate. On 11 May, incumbent co-leader Adrian Ramsay launched a joint leadership bid alongside fellow MP Ellie Chowns.

Career outside politics

Ramsay served as chief executive of the Centre for Alternative Technology from 2014 to 2019, working in Wales. He returned to Norfolk in 2019 and took up the post of chief executive of the MCS Charitable Foundation, a charity working towards carbon-free UK homes, from which he resigned on election to Parliament in July 2024.

Elections contested

European Parliament

House of Commons

Council

Co-leader of the Green Party

Deputy leader of the Green Party

References

External links

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Page on the website of the Green Party of England and Wales

Cllr. Adrian Ramsay's Green Party Website Biography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramsay, Adrian
1981 births
Living people
People educated at the City of Norwich School
Alumni of the University of East Anglia
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
Politicians from Norwich
Leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales
Green Party of England and Wales councillors
UK MPs 2024–present
Green Party of England and Wales MPs