Like most Mancunians, Boudicca did not vote at the local elections this year. In fact, the 50-year-old says she's only ever voted on three occasions in her life.
But in the part of Wythenshawe where she lives, every vote matters. The Greens beat Labour by just 146 votes in Woodhouse Park earlier this month, gaining a third seat in the council ward by the narrowest margin in Manchester.
Over the last three years, the ruling party at the town hall has been wiped out from the south Manchester ward which is now the only place in the city without a single Labour councillor. Across the country, the Green Party made record gains in the local elections on May 4, winning hundreds of council seats.
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National party leaders came to Woodhouse Park last month to campaign for Green candidate Anastasia Wiest. While she admitted that she was disappointed that Labour's Dave Marsh lost, Manchester council leader Bev Craig said, as the result came in, that she was 'pleased' with her party's performance in the city as a whole and across the country at the ballot box.
But, reflecting on the result in Woodhouse Park at the election count, Labour veteran Eddy Newman, who stood down as a councillor for the ward this year, said the Greens' win had 'very little to do with party policies'. It echoes what voters told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on the doorstep, when, before and after the local elections, they spoke of the Greens being more visible and 'getting things done'.
Others in Woodhouse Park - where the election turnout was only 22.41 pc this year - speak of having given up on politics altogether and say they do not vote at all.
Among them is Boudicca, who says 'not one of them is worth my vote'. Standing by her electric scooter on a sunny day at Wythenshawe Civic Centre, she says she was once a Labour voter, but no longer believes voting makes a difference.
However, describing it as her 'duty' to 'distress the establishment', she says she would consider casting her ballot as a 'protest vote'. "I don't believe in global warming," she said, "but if I vote for anyone it would be the Green Party."
Speaking to people in the area reveals that the Greens have attracted voters in Woodhouse Park from a wide range of political backgrounds. Some say they are lifelong Labour voters, some Tories, some even ex-UKIP – with many saying they would vote Labour in a general election.
But in the local elections, many said they would vote for whoever is more 'visible'. Rachel Paine, who lives in Robinswood Road and voted Green, is one of them.
"The Green Party were the people who came and knocked on my house, whereas I didn't see anyone else," she explained. "Effort goes a long way."
Frank, who lives over the road, voted Green for similar reasons. He says Labour 'take us for granted', but the Greens 'work hard' – and not just at election time.
"We just got the feeling that we never knew Labour," he said. "They were faceless. They made a big effort this time because they felt threatened."
His neighbour, who asks not to be named, feels his vote was been taken for granted 'for donkeys years'. Recently, he did get a knock on the door from a Labour councillor who has represented him for more than 20 years.
However, he claims this was the first time they have ever met. When it comes to local elections, he says, 'it's all about personality rather than the policy'.
Many voters mention the work of Wythenshawe Waste Warriors when asked about the Greens. Even those who did not vote for them, praise the party for their work 'cleaning up' the area, referring to their involvement in the group - although, despite being regular attenders on litter picks and having close personal links to those behind the group, the Greens do not actually run it themselves. Meanwhile, for other voters, it's all about case work and which councillor will 'get things done'.
Before the election, the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to several residents who cited this as the reason why they now vote Green. Roy Dickens, who lives in Cranham Road, explained that he had been trying to get the local authority to deal with a 'dangerous' tree in front of his property for months.
"I got hold of Rob," he says. "He had a look at it and within four days it was gone. No one else was interested. That was a vote winner for me."
Coun Rob Nunney - who, two years ago, became the first Green councillor in Manchester since 2008 - is now a household name in Woodhouse Park. Many mention his name when explaining why they started voting for the Greens.
Even those who do not vote seem to know him. John Sutton, another resident of Robinswood Road, has no interest in the local elections, so he did not vote.
But, unprompted, the 42-year-old says he is 'aware' of Rob and knows the Greens 'do a lot of good things in the area'. Every month, the Greens deliver 7,500 leaflets - one to each household in the ward - and more at elections.
However, the party cannot rely on name recognition and relentless advertising alone. Next year will be the first time a Green councillor is up for re-election.
And, with Labour firmly in control of the council - holding 88 of the 96 seats - Coun Nunney will have to convince voters that he can make a difference. Not least because some residents say they have already given up on the Greens.
Nigel and Pauline Lowe used to vote Labour, but the couple, from Robinswood Road, started voting for the Greens two years ago. Nevertheless, this year they switched back. Citing issues with anti-social behaviour in the area, they say it 'never got sorted out'.
"He came round saying he would get things done," Nigel says, explaining why he will not be voting for Coun Nunney when he is up for re-election in 2024.
Former Labour councillor Ekua Bayunu who defected to the Greens last year and is now the deputy leader of the group is also up for re-election - in 2024, in Hulme. But rather than just holding onto their four seats, the Greens are hoping to make gains.
Elsewhere in Wythenshawe, they have already picked up some new voters. Sandra, who has lived in Baguley for 76 years, voted Green because she has 'had enough of Labour', citing similar reasons to voters in Woodhouse Park.
"I remember when they used to knock on our doors and we'd hide, "she said. "Now I don't know who's standing in the election so I end up looking at where they live.
"I won't vote for Labour because they believe they're going to get it anyway."
Mark Jennings, who lives in the same council ward, stuck with Labour this year. The ruling group won the ward by a massive margin, beating the Conservative candidate who came in second place by 1,132 votes, with the Greens in third.
He says people in the Labour stronghold are 'pissed off' with the Conservative government, but doubts that the opposition would do much better in power. He says he could be convinced to vote Green if they 'come up with a good policy'.
But Pete Stores, who lives in Newall Green, is not looking to switch sides. Born in Stockport, he says his working class background and values are why he votes Labour.
However, having lived in Wythenshawe for 10 years, he says he's 'not surprised' to hear more people are voting Green. Also citing the Wythenshawe Waste Warriors in his praise for the party, he explains, "we're quite proud of our green spaces."
Earlier this year, Manchester council approved 'once in a generation' plans to transform Wythenshawe Civic Centre with a new public square, cultural hub and food hall. The development masterplan promises to celebrate the Garden City heritage of Wythenshawe while acting as a 'catalyst' for economic growth.
And despite learning it had lost its £20m bid for the government's Levelling Up fund just hours after approving the masterplan, the Labour-run council said it is 'completely committed' to make this vision a reality. Before the election, several Labour sources conceded the Greens are good with case work, but stressed the ruling group takes full responsibility for the long-term plans for Wythenshawe.
Manchester's Labour council leader Bev Craig said: "Labour ran a positive and spirited campaign in Woodhouse Park with a great local candidate in Wythenshawe's Dave Marsh following the retirement of Cllr Eddy Newman. Despite the hard work of Dave and the team, he was narrowly beaten by only 146 votes, closing the gap between Labour and the Greens. The Greens got fewer votes than they did in the last two elections.
"Manchester Labour is committed to improving our city and the lives of all our residents. Manchester’s Labour council has a proud record delivering for Wythenshawe, and we are building more affordable housing, putting more money into cleaner streets and investing in parks and green spaces.
"Wythenshawe Labour councillors have long campaigned for a plan for the Civic, and as a result Manchester Labour have fully committed to bringing forward exciting plans for investment in Wythenshawe Town Centre. The council has taken the historic step to buy out the developer on the Civic and taken ownership of the shopping centre.
"There will be exciting news soon on what this will mean for local residents, bringing more affordable low carbon homes, good jobs, improved shopping, bars and restaurants and a cinema and arts centre to benefit Wythenshawe people.
"Woodhouse Park Labour locally will no doubt hold their new councillors to account for the actions they have promised but in the mean time Manchester Labour are committed to continuing to do the best for all of our residents, no matter who they vote for - and will always put our city first."
Manchester's Green Party leader Astrid Johnson said: "The reason Greens keep winning in Woodhouse Park is that residents know us and know just how hard we work for them, in the ward and on the council. We’re knocking on their doors every single week, and they know we’re standing up for them on the issues that matter most, whether that’s supporting them through the cost-of-living crisis or taking care of their vital green spaces.
"Some residents tell us that they are fed up with the status quo on Manchester City Council under Labour and want to see more opposition councillors. Others feel that the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives, are starting to look alike, and they see us as a bold alternative.
"The recent local elections showed that Greens can win seats everywhere, from inner-city areas to more suburban and rural ones. If we can win three times in a row in Woodhouse Park, we can do that anywhere in Manchester, and we’ll work hard to convince residents they can trust us with their vote again next year."
Read more of today's top stories here.
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