THE LEADER OF The Green Party in Harlow has announced she is standing down.

Yasmin van der Poel made the announcement at their annual general meeting.

In many ways, Yasmin professionalised the Greens in Harlow. Her performance in the General Election of 2024 was particularly impressive and you always felt that Yasmin was laying the foundations.

She welcomed future leader, Zack Polanski to the town but also had a real feel for the issues in the town.

Mrs van der Poel made a particularly impressive contribution to the Stort River Crossing inquiry.

She will be missed but leaves the Greens in good health.

The recently married Yasmin has so many other projects on the go, all of which we look forward to covering.

Here is her valedictory speech.

Good evening everyone,

Thank you all for being here tonight. It’s a moment of reflection, gratitude, and transition as I announce that I’ll be stepping down as Chair of the Harlow Green Party.

When I first took on this role, I knew it would be a challenge—but I also knew it was a challenge worth taking. Harlow deserves a voice that speaks up for the environment, for fairness, and for the kind of future we all want to see. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape that voice, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been working alongside passionate, principled people. In early 2023, I became co-chair with Jamie Gilbert, and since then, we’ve built a team that’s not only committed to Green values but deeply rooted in the community. We’ve stood candidates in every ward, expanded our visibility across Harlow, and made sure that our message—of sustainability, justice, and integrity—was heard loud and clear.

I’ve always believed that politics should be about service, not status. That’s why I’ve continued my work as a school governor since 2018, and as a trustee for local initiatives that support education, wellbeing, and community resilience. These roles have kept me grounded and reminded me that real change starts with listening, learning, and showing up.

One of the proudest moments of my time as Chair was standing as the Green Party candidate in the 2024 General Election. I received 2,267 votes—5% of the total—and while we didn’t win the seat, we won something just as important: momentum. That result showed that people in Harlow are ready for a different kind of politics. One that puts people and planet first. One that doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations. One that dares to imagine better.

We’ve had visits from Adrian Ramsay, Baroness Jenny Jones and Zack Polanski. We have put Harlow on the political map.

We’ve defended the green belt, challenged overdevelopment, and stood up for public services. We’ve held decision-makers to account and offered real alternatives. We’ve built bridges with other community groups, supported local campaigns, and brought new voices into the fold. And we’ve done it all with integrity, compassion, and a fierce commitment to our values.

As I step down, I do so with confidence in the future of the Harlow Green Party. We are stronger, more visible, and more determined than ever. I’ll still be here—supporting, mentoring, and cheering from the sidelines—but it’s time for new leadership to take us forward.

To everyone who’s walked this path with me—thank you. Thank you for your trust, your energy, and your belief in a greener, fairer Harlow. This isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning. And I can’t wait to see where we go next.

Let’s keep going. Let’s keep growing. And let’s keep fighting for the future we all deserve.

Thank you.