| Adrian Ramsay | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
| Parliament3: | United Kingdom |
| Constituency Mp3: | Waveney Valley |
| Termstart3: | 4 July 2024 |
| Majority3: | 5,593 (11.4%) |
| Predecessor3: | Constituency established |
| Office: | Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales |
| Alongside: | Carla Denyer |
| Deputy: | Amelia Womack Zack Polanski |
| Term Start: | 1 October 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Siân Berry |
| Office2: | Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales |
| Term Start2: | 5 September 2008 |
| Term End2: | 3 September 2012 |
| Leader2: | Caroline Lucas |
| Predecessor2: | Office established |
| Successor2: | Will Duckworth |
| Office4: | Norwich City Councilor for Nelson Ward |
| Term Start4: | 10 June 2004 |
| Term End4: | 5 May 2011 |
| Predecessor4: | Paul McAlenan |
| Successor4: | Denise Carlo |
| Office5: | Norwich City Councilor for Henderson Ward |
| Term Start5: | 1 May 2003 |
| Term End5: | 10 June 2004 |
| Birth Name: | Adrian Philip Ramsay |
| Education: | City of Norwich School |
| Alma Mater: | University of East Anglia |
| Party: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Residence: | Norwich, Norfolk, England |
Adrian Philip Ramsay (born August 1981)[1] 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[2] and from 2019 to 2024 was CEO of MCS Charitable Foundation.[3] [4]
Ramsay was the successful Green parliamentary candidate for Waveney Valley at the 2024 UK general election and became the first Green MP for a seat in the East of England.[5] 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 UK.[6]
Ramsay was born and brought up in Norwich.[7] He was educated at City of Norwich School,[8] graduated from the University of East Anglia with a first class degree in politics, and went on to study for a master's degree.[7]
Ramsay was first elected to Norwich City Council representing Henderson Ward in May 2003, representing the Green Party.[9] Aged 21, he was one of the youngest councillors in the UK.[10] Later that year, he spoke at a demonstration against tuition fees in the United Kingdom.[11] Ramsay was re-elected in June 2004 for Nelson Ward.[12]
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".[13] In 2007, he was elected for a third time. In 2010, he was serving as the leader of the opposition to the Labour council.[14] At the 2011 local elections, he did not seek re-election to Norwich City Council.
Ramsay was elected unopposed as the first deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales on 5 September 2008.[15] In 2009 he made a speech at the party's conference calling for the end private finance initiative agreements in the NHS.[16] 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.[17] [18]
On 16 August 2021, Ramsay announced his candidacy for co-leader of the Green Party alongside the Bristol councillor Carla Denyer.[19] He said that the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report had motivated him to return to politics.[20] The pair's joint candidacy emphasised professionalising the party and winning a second Green MP and a first Green Member of the Senedd (MS).[21] [22]
The announcement that the pair had been elected was made on 1 October 2021.[23]
In a YouGov poll midway through the 2024 United Kingdom general election campaign, 84% of the Green Party supporters polled did not recognise a photograph of Ramsay.[24]
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.[25] Ramsay came in fourth place with 14.9% of the vote (7,095 votes).[26] [27] He co-organised Lucas's campaign in Brighton Pavilion which saw her elected as the UK's first Green Member of Parliament (MP).[28]
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.[29] 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 and he also became the first ever male MP for a Green party in the UK.
Shortly after assuming office, Ramsay voiced opposition to government plans 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.[30] This led to allegations of nimbyism, including from Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband.[31] Responding to the allegations in an interview on LBC, Ramsey claimed he was representing concerns of his constituents.[32]
Ramsay served as chief executive of the Centre for Alternative Technology from 2014 to 2019, working in Wales.[33] 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,[34] from which he resigned on election to Parliament in July 2024.[35] [36]
| Date | Constituency | Votes | % votes | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Norwich South | 3,101 | 7.4 | 4th |
| 2010 | Norwich South | 7,095 | 14.9 | 4th |
| 2024 | Waveney Valley | 20,467 | 41.7 | Elected |
| Date | Council | Ward | Votes | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Norwich City Council | Henderson | 991 | Elected | |
| 2004 | Norwich City Council | Nelson | 1,643 | Elected | |
| 2007 | Norwich City Council | Nelson | 1,899 | Elected |
| Date | Votes | % votes | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Elected unopposed | |||
| 2010 | 2,386 | 73.4 | Elected | |