Taylor, a small businessman, relished being described as someone who defied the stereotype of Green politicians as earnest academics
Keith Taylor, who has died aged 69, was a key figure in the Green Party as it made its breakthrough: leader of the party on Brighton council, joint “principal speaker” for the Greens with Caroline Lucas, and from 2010 to 2019 an MEP and the party’s animal rights spokesman.
He was also his party’s most successful parliamentary candidate up to 2005, polling 21.9 per cent of the vote at Brighton Pavilion that year before being ousted by Ms Lucas, who went on to capture the seat.
Paying tribute to Taylor, Britain’s first Green MP praised his “infectious sense of humour”. She tweeted: “Passionate about building a better world, worked so hard to secure first MP seat. I owe him so much.”
Taylor, a small businessman, got into politics almost by accident when he joined campaigners against an “inappropriate” redevelopment” of the New England Quarter adjacent to Brighton station.