Formation of new city wide Green Party
At a full meeting at Leeds Civic Hall on 5th October, members of the Green Party in Leeds agreed to the formation of a city wide party.
Proposing the motion Cllr. David Blackburn (Farnley & Wortley) said that a city wide party would provide a forum for members living outside the active branches, and could provide support for the growth of new ward parties with the City.
Supporting Cllr. Blackburn, Martin Hemingway from Headingley Green Party stated that the branch would not replace the current branches, but would provide the focus for growth of the party in the City.
He said “At the moment we have three political parties that have betrayed the country, a Conservative Party imposing cuts that are not necessary, a Liberal Democrat Party that has abandoned every principle to outdo the Tories in its cuts agenda, and a Labour Party that is proposing all kinds of things that it failed to do during thirteen years of government.”
In their first detailed report to members since the agreement to support a Labour Administration in Leeds, Cllr. Ann Blackburn (Farnley & Wortley) said that some of the measures asked in the agreement were already being delivered on. The review of the future of City of Leeds School had been done resulting in the school staying open, and the biggest energy efficiency scheme in the country was in the planning stage, and would bring energy savings across the city, as homes were insulated for free. The scheme would create hundreds of ‘green jobs’ at a time when unemployment was been used again as government weapon.
Contact for the new party is 0113 2790336 – mobile 07930 116395.
Cllr. Ann Blackburn
National round up
Caroline Lucas MP
The General Election of 6th May saw the historic election of the UK’s first ever Green Party Member of Parliament, Caroline Lucas MP who won in the constituency of Brighton Pavilion.
On 25th May Caroline Lucas Green MP, writing for Channel 4, proposed an alternative Queen’s Speech for the State Opening of Parliament.
The alternative speech sets out the priority “to modernise the British economy for a low-carbon future, to create an economy more balanced between manufacturing and services, more resilient in the face of financial crises, where wealth is more equitably distributed and the more vulnerable in society are offered greater protection” – beginning with a £44 billion investment package which would create over one million new jobs and training places, mostly in the low-carbon sectors the Greens believe the UK must develop rapidly in order to meet demanding CO2 targets.
The speech promises to tackle the budget deficit, but with greater emphasis on taxing higher incomes. It refers to halting any new private finance initiative (PFI) schemes, and to keeping the Royal Mail in public ownership.
The alternative speech also talks about wide-ranging financial reforms which would include separating retail from investment banking, setting up a national network of not-for-profit community banks, severe restrictions on bankers’ bonuses and the introduction of a “Robin Hood tax” on financial transactions. The redistributive tax measures will ensure that a non-means-tested citizen’s pension may be introduced at the level of £170 for individual pensioners and £300 for couples. This will ensure that no British pensioner is living below the poverty line.
Other measures would include an early withdrawal from Afghanistan and the scrapping of the Trident missile system and its proposed replacement.
The full article can be found here.
On 27th May Caroline Lucas MP delivered her maiden speech to Parliament, a truly historic moment. Caroline’s full speech can be read here.
Election News
Thursday 6th May saw voting in the General Election and local elections for Leeds City Council. Farnley & Wortley Green Party were involved in both, as Andy Parnham sought re-election as a councillor, and David Blackburn was a candidate in the Leeds West parliamentary constituency.
In the end it proved a disappointing climax to several months’ hard work. David Blackburn obtained a creditable 1832 votes, but at 4.7% fell just short of having his deposit returned. In the council election Andy Parnham polled a very impressive 2563 votes (24.5%), but came second to the Labour candidate. In a normal council election Andy Parnham’s tally would have been enough to secure a clear victory. However with the General Election being held on the same day voter turn out was much higher and the local election results saw a rise in the three main parties’ votes, closely following the trends of the parliamentary ballots. We would like to thank all those who voted for Andy and David in the elections. Be sure we will continue to fight to represent your views.
Farnley & Wortley ward has lost an excellent hard working councillor. We would like to thank Andy for all his efforts in for the people of Farnley & Worley ward, and for the Green group in the council.
Elsewhere in the Armley ward Robert Simpson polled 635 votes (6.5%), in Bramley & Stanningley Kate Bisson got 302 votes (3.2%), and in Kirkstall Morgan Tatchell-Evans received 469 votes (4.9%). Many thanks to all those who voted for Green candidates in the local elections and to those who helped our campaigns.
Greens & Morley Borough Independents Try To Save Area Plans
At the Development Plan Panel held on Tuesday 9th March proposals were brought to scrap the West Leeds Gateway Area Action Plan and the EASEL(East and South East Leeds) Area Action Plan.
An amendment, which would have resulted in both being retained, was Proposed by Cllr Tom Leadley (Morley Borough Independent) and Seconded by Cllr David Blackburn (Green Party, Farnley & Wortley) but was defeated on the casting vote of the Chair. The proposals will now go to the Executive Board to be held on Wednesday 10th March. Cllr David Blackburn said
“The West Leeds Gateway AAP is well down the road and is only a few months away from possible adoption, to my mind to scrap it now is effectively to waste the public money which has already been spent on it. It also sends a message to our partners in Bradford, who are busy working with us on the Leeds Bradford Corridor Scheme, that we are not serious about the regeneration of West Leeds.”
He went on to say:
“Scrapping the AAP in the middle of a recession is to me plain silly, we are not going to be in recession forever and if West Leeds is to benefit from any upturn then this plan needs to be in place now.”
Candidates selected for Leeds West area
The Leeds West Green Party are delighted to announce their candidates for the upcoming General and Local Elections. They are as follows:
Leeds West Parliamentary Constituency – Cllr David Blackburn (More info)
Local Council Elections 6th May 2010
Armley Ward - Robert Simpson
Bramley & Stanningley Ward – Kate Bisson
Farnley & Wortley Ward – Cllr Andy Parnham
