5 April 2018
* Green Party launches strongest ever local election campaign standing candidates in 2200 seats
* Party stands record number of candidates since these seats were last contested
* Jonathan Bartley: “One more Labour or Tory councillor won’t make a difference. But one Green could change everything.”
The Green Party will launch [1] its strongest ever local election campaign today (Thursday 5 April), with hopes of electing Greens on more local authorities than ever before as the party works towards having a Green on every council.
Greens are contesting 2200 seats on May 3, more than half seats up for election. The party is standing a record number of candidates since these seats were last contested, and the most candidates ever in London.
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, will appeal to voters to choose a Green to stand up for their community instead of adding “one more Labour or Tory to already complacent councils.”
Bartley will also highlight the impact Green councillors across Britain have when they are elected, like in Sheffield where Alison Teal has stood with residents against the felling of healthy street trees after the council gave a £2 billion highway maintenance contract to a private company [2].
The launch will take place in Central Hill estate in London which is facing demolition by Lambeth Council. Green Councillor Scott Ainslie has stood with residents opposing the demolition [3], and the Green Party is hopeful to make gains in Central Hill in May.
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say:
“The Green Party wants to see a Green on every council to build a better Britain from the bottom up.
“Across the country councils have forgotten the people they are meant to serve. From Lambeth council planning to demolish residents homes to Sheffield sacrificing the natural environment to private contracts, one party state councils are riding roughshod over the wishes of their communities.
“In these local elections people have the choice to add one more Labour or Tory councillor to already complacent councils – or choose a Green who can change everything.
“Greens will always be a bold, brave voice standing up for local communities and challenging the status quo. One Green has the power to transform a community.”
Notes:
Green Party local election campaign launch
Thursday 5 April 2018
Speech from Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, in Central Hill housing estate in London, which is facing demolition.
In Sheffield Green councillor Alison Teal has stood with residents protecting the city’s trees – 5,500 of which have already been felled after the Labour led council gave a highway maintenance contract to a private company. Alison and other residents have been arrested for their efforts, with charges later dropped. The Green Party believes our environment is more important than profit and Green councillors will always stand up against the destruction of the local environment.
In Lambeth Green councillor Scott Ainslie has stood with residents on six estates facing demolition by the Labour led council. The planned regeneration of Central Hill housing estate will destroy a community and leave the borough with fewer social homes as a result. The Green Party believes residents should always get a say over what happens to their homes and will never stand by while social homes are destroyed.
Follow this news feed: Green Party