Co-Editors-in-Chief Fiona Hill and Jamie Bryson in conversation with the Norwich-born Green Party Co-Leader and new East Anglian MP, Adrian Ramsay.  

Adrian Ramsay’s political journey began as a student at UEA between 1999 and 2005. It is a story of deep local roots that have grown into a national political career. As Co-Leader of the Green Party (of England and Wales) and a former City Councillor in Norwich, Ramsey offers insights into how his academic experiences, coupled with a long-standing commitment to political activism, have shaped his vision for both his new constituency (Waveney Valley) and the UK as a whole.  

Looking back on his time at The Home of the Wonderful, Ramsay’s reflections reveal how formative those years were for where he now finds himself. Studying Politics and Sociology at undergraduate level (and going on to study for an MA in Politics), he emphasises the importance of UEA’s interdisciplinary academic environment, which encouraged him to explore politics through a wider lens, blending it with economics, sociology, and philosophy modules. “The lecturers and fellow students were fantastic,” Ramsay recalls, “and the wider university life was brilliant”.  

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His time at UEA wasn’t limited to academics, though. He was heavily involved in political campaigns, eventually establishing the Young Greens Society, which remains active today. It’s clear that UEA wasn’t just an educational institution for Ramsay but also a breeding ground for his political ideology.  

The ‘Fine City’ of Norwich itself was equally impactful. Growing up and studying in the city (having also attended the City of Norwich School), Ramsay reflects on his connection to its unique culture and sphere of influence. He speaks of Norwich’s independent spirit and how its distance from London creates a distinctive political environment. “Norwich, being far enough from London, has a distinct identity with lots of independent businesses and a unique culture. That lends itself to a different kind of politics,” he explains. This independence helped shape his political views, he stresses – emphasising localism, environmental sustainability, and grassroots activism.  

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In his post-UEA career, Ramsay quickly shifted his attention from local to national politics, but his focus on grassroots campaigning remained central. After becoming Deputy Leader of the Green Party in 2008, he worked alongside Caroline Lucas (Green Leader from 2007-2012 and 2016-2018), trying to translate local council victories into national strategies. The move into national politics wasn’t without its challenges, Ramsey details, but, he adds, he was determined to push the Green Party’s agenda forward, reflecting, “It was a great experience and opportunity to take what I had led locally to the national stage while still being active in Norfolk”.   

Fast forward to his current role as Co-Leader of the Green Party and constituency MP, and that same localised approach remains key. Ramsey and Carla Denyer (Co-Leader and new MP for Bristol Central) have focused on building a strong, targeted electoral strategy to secure more seats in Parliament. The Green Party’s traditional local strongholds, such as Brighton, provided a blueprint for success, which the leadership team has expanded upon, Ramsay explains, adding, “We built on momentum from the growth in Green councillors across the country, which had increased five-fold in the last five years. The strategy was based on the tactics we used successfully in Norwich and elsewhere” Ramsay. Clearly, for Ramsay, local success isn’t just a stepping stone to national influence—it appears to be the foundation of a more sustainable and impactful political movement.  

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Ramsay’s emphasises his commitment to environmentalism and social justice in his policy work, both locally and nationally. He speaks passionately about the need to address pressing issues in his constituency, particularly the decline of public services and environmental degradation. “Key concerns include the lack of dentists and declining local services like healthcare, which is a big issue in the Waveney Valley and much of Norfolk and Suffolk,” he says. Furthermore, his commitment to restoring the natural environment and tackling issues like river pollution and biodiversity loss aligns closely with the Green Party’s broader goals.  

However, Ramsay emphasises that being an MP isn’t just about local advocacy—it’s also about holding the government accountable, he stresses. “If you’re not part of the government, your role is to scrutinise it, and I believe in doing that constructively”, he notes. His approach appears more cooperative than combative; he is willing to work with other parties when their policies align with Green priorities, he explains. This can be seen in his recent support for renationalising the railways and tackling child poverty.   

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A unique aspect of our conversation with Ramsay came through his insight into the workings of the Houses of Parliament – an imposing imperial era former royal Palace dating back almost 1000 years. He talks candidly about the anachronisms that plague Westminster, such as the voting process and seating arrangements. Describing the physical voting method (there remains no digital method of voting, meaning MPs often have to stay in the building late into the night), he comments that “it’s incredibly time-consuming,” adding that the chamber itself is often overcrowded, with MPs queueing early to secure a seat. These practices, he argues, are far from efficient and need modernising. Ramsay’s criticism goes beyond mere inconvenience, however.  

His broader point is that Parliament, as the beating centre of UK politics, should be more transparent and reflective of modern democratic values. His call for modernisation echoes Labour’s recent establishment of a ‘Modernisation Committee’ – aiming to “consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards, and working practices” – to which the Greens intend to contribute ideas.  

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In addition to his parliamentary work, Ramsay also addresses the disturbing rise in hate crimes and violence across the UK over recent months. For him, the roots of this problem lie not only in years of divisive political rhetoric from leading figures but also in the vast socio-economic inequality that remains in the UK. “The violence we’ve seen [over the summer] is horrific, and we need to call it out for what it is… We’re witnessing racism and Islamophobia, and we have to be willing to address it as such,” he says. Ramsay believes that building more inclusive and harmonious communities is essential. Still, it requires political leaders to stand in solidarity with affected groups, as well as addressing issues of vast inequality head-on.    

In response to questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict, Ramsey takes a balanced yet firm stance. He condemns the attacks by Hamas while also criticising Israel’s violations of international law. Since our interview (August), the Green Party has become the first and only UK political party to officially recognise the Israeli state’s physical assault on Gaza as a “genocide”, with its members voting for the motion during the party’s annual conference earlier this month. His call for stronger UK leadership in supporting the International Criminal Court (who have issued an international arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu) and ensuring arms sales do not contribute to human rights abuses is highly reflective of the Green Party’s broader alternate foreign policy.  

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One of the most pressing concerns for UEA students is the state of higher education in the UK, particularly the financial instability faced by universities like UEA. Ramsay’s Green Party has committed to abolishing tuition fees and reinstating maintenance grants (non-repayable cost-of-living grants), a policy he describes as economically feasible and socially just. He criticises the continued “marketisation of education”, arguing that universities should be seen as public goods, not profit-driven businesses. “The root cause of these problems is the marketisation of higher education, which has transformed universities into private businesses, creating a financially unsustainable model,” he argues. Ramsay’s proposed ‘wealth tax’ and other economic reforms aim to fill the financial gaps currently threatening the UK’s higher education sector. His plan offers an alternative to the constant pressure for tuition fee increases, which many vice-chancellors, including UEA’s, have called for [see front page].  

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As the interview draws to a close, it’s clear that Ramsay’s political vision is one rooted in both local engagement and national strategy. His journey from UEA graduate to Co-Leader of the Green Party illustrates the power of grassroots activism, but it also highlights the importance of strategic thinking and credible policy proposals in effecting real change.  

For some UEA students, Ramsay’s story may offer not just inspiration but a blueprint for how to make a more profound impact on communities from a grassroots level. Whether through environmental advocacy, political campaigning, or challenging the status quo in higher education, Ramsay’s message is clear and one which he has evidently taken with him from the corridors of UEA: lasting change begins with a commitment to “doing things differently”.