A GREEN Party activist from south Essex has been made a last-minute addition to the national leadership contest.

In the tumult of the Conservative leadership contest and the attempt to oust Labour’s leader Jeremy Corbyn, few have noticed the Green Party is having its own leadership election, or that south Essex activist Simon Cross is standing in it.

Mr Cross, 51, of Shoebury Road, Great Wakering, said the latter point was because he was left off the original shortlist on Tuesday, which features the party’s only MP Caroline Lucas, because one of his nomination papers was lost – meaning he fell below the minimum threshold.

He said: “There was some hoo-har about the number of nominees and I finished in a position where they checked mine and only found 17, but they checked the process and found one had been lost, which they found out Friday morning.”

Originally from Sheffield and a candidate in the general election for Rochford and Southend East, Mr Cross said he understood how many communities outside of London felt ignored by Westminster politics, and said he wanted to diversify the leadership of the Green Party to reflect all communities.

He said: “I understand the feeling of people in the north that they are ignored by Westminster, and that the subtext of the Brexit debate was that they felt they weren’t being listened to – which is something politicians have just ignored.

“But I also feel strongly about diversity, and rather than just being leader, I would like to get a leadership team together of people who are experts in their areas, such as a BME (black and minority ethnic) person, someone from the LGBT+ community, someone who is disabled.

“The leadership doesn’t need to be someone in a grey suit talking to people about the issues which affect them and which they’re passionate about. I’m also keen to get the word out, particularly to young people, that this is a party which is run by its members – our policies are made by members and our leaders are elected by members.”

He added, if elected leader, he would work towards building a centre-left coalition with Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and smaller parties as a means of building a strong opposition and alternative to the Government.

He said: “General election turnouts are typically between 60 and 65 per cent, which meant this government was elected by 24 per cent of the electorate, and I think that’s because people aren’t engaged.

“That’s what I want to change.”