Support for the Greens is rising in London, so here’s what that might mean for students

Support for the Green Party is surging both in London and across the country, with a record 170,000 members as of 22nd November.

The Greens have been on the rise for some time, but since Zack Polanski took over leadership in England and Wales, support has skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Labour’s popularity ratings are plummeting.

Many young voters, especially those casting their first ballots, may have limited experience of successive governments and party policies, so it can be tricky to understand what actually sets the Greens apart from the rest, beyond its environmental policy.

So, here’s what support for the Greens looks like in the capital, and just as importantly, what the party has to say about students in its manifesto.

The rise of the Greens

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A post shared by Green Party of England & Wales (@thegreenparty)

Councillors across London are defecting from Labour to the Greens, with the party claiming Labour is “‘‘haemorrhaging’ support” over its stance on Gaza, disability benefits and the climate. Labour’s perceived failures to address the ongoing cost-of-living crisis also seem to have dissuaded many. 

Data from a YouGov poll has shown that remaining Labour voters actually trust the Greens more on topics like environment, poverty, and even keeping promises. 

What does this mean for students? 

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According to polling for ITV News, the Greens are the most popular party amongst 18 to 25-year-olds. But how do Green policies aim to affect the student population?

Firstly: Student Finance. The Greens want to end tuition fees for students in higher education, in contrast to Labour’s decision to increase them. For the academic year 2025/26, fees for home students in England rose to £9,535, with the education secretary Bridget Phillipson recently announcing further tuition fee increases in line with inflation.

The Green Party’s manifesto outlines plans to scrap this increase and restore maintenance grants, which would reduce the amount of repayable loans that students need to pay. 

And for year abroad students, the Green Party plans to rejoin the Erasmus programme. This offers funding and support for students who want to study abroad. Unlike the Turing Scheme, the Erasmus programme grants funding to everyone, and also waives tuition fees for students’ host unis. The initiative to rejoin the Erasmus programme is closely linked to the Greens’ plans to return to the free movement of people between the UK and the EU.

To support international students coming to the UK, the Greens’ manifesto outlines its plan for students to bring their family members with them. This right is currently restricted to postgraduates on research courses or students on courses with government-funded scholarships.

So, higher education would become more financially accessible for home students, and British universities would be made more accessible for international students. 

But of course, before voting, it is essential to look through each party’s manifesto to make an informed decision on which party you’d most like to support.

Labour has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Featured image via Instagram / @greenpartyzack and Canva