Green Party presents its ambitions for Carlisle
Last updated at 13:25, Thursday, 19 April 2012
The Greens say they are the only party fighting the Carlisle City Council elections that rejects the idea of public spending cuts.
The Greens have candidates in 11 of the 17 wards being contested on May 3.
And they think they have their best chance yet of getting at least one elected.
John Reardon, who was the Greens’ parliamentary candidate in Carlisle at the 2010 General Election, said: “We are standing predominantly on an anti-cuts ticket.
“Eleven candidates is the most we’ve had. It’s more than the Liberal Democrats are fielding. We feel there is potential in Carlisle for a seriously large Green group.”
The party launched a 45-page manifesto at Greystone Community Centre last night. It contains a 10-point plan and long-term vision for Carlisle with measures to increase rented housing, set up community co-operatives and even bring back trams.
Mr Reardon said: “We are ambitious for Carlisle. We are not saying we would do these things straight away.
“The idea is to give people a flavour of what a council with a significant Green membership would look like.”
Richard Hunt, who is standing in Belle Vue, pointed to the success of Respect candidate George Galloway, in the recent Bradford West parliamentary by-election, as evidence of an appetite for change.
Neil Boothman, the candidate in Castle, said: “People feel there is a lack of principled opposition. We are the only party making the case against the cuts.”
The Greens reject the idea of coalition with any of the main parties.
Mr Reardon added: “Labour are fighting hard to keep us out of St Aidan’s. They know that, as a party of the left, we are a threat.”
First published at 11:29, Thursday, 19 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
Commers that is nothing to do with Carlisle Council. What would you do if you were in charge? You would be doing more or less what the current incumbents are doing.
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For a start, the Greens aren't fielding enough candidates to take charge of the council. As they said in the article their aim is to establish a Green group on the council. It's as much about engaging with communities, building consensus and a movement that exerts wider pressure for much needed change in our society, as it is about being in charge of a council. It is entirely judicious to believe that society can be vastly improved in principle, and to engage in electoral politics to that end.
Posted by Commers on 21 April 2012 at 15:51