Labour councillor joins Green Party

Ahead of the local elections in May, a Labour councillor has decided to defend his seat under the banner of the Green Party. Ernie Goody, Borough and Town councillor for Haverhill East, has been welcomed into the Green Party, which he says better accords with his constituents' interests as well as his own beliefs.

Cllr. Goody is the latest Labour Councillor or Labour party officer to join the Green Party in Eastern Region.

The Greens are continuing to make strong progress. In 1999, there were just 2 principal authority Green councillors in the region. There are now over 20 and the party is expecting to add to that number at the May 3rd elections. Eastern Region Greens are also gearing up for a strong campaign to win a seat at the 2009 European elections.

The Green's progress has been helped by consistently campaigning on core environmental and social issues whilst New Labour under Tony Blair has alienated many of its former supporters through policies such as the disasterous Iraq war, stealth privatisation of public services and failure to tackle transport and environmental problems.

Councillor Goody said " My recent concerns as a councillor have focussed more and more on green issues, but nationally and locally Labour are not getting on with what's needed. I am excited to have a remit to campaign wholeheartedly on environmental problems which affect my constituents and the planet. They need greenways to get to the town centre on foot, bike or wheel chair, and that will cut traffic emissions. New homes should all be zero carbon from now on, and that would mean warmer homes and lower fuel bills as well. "

• Ernie Goody 01440 763381 Haverhill@SuffolkGreenParty.org.uk
• Ritchie Tennant 01284 705967 ritchie.tennant@talktalk.net
• John Matthissen 01449 771742 john@SuffolkGreenParty.org.uk
• Eastern Region Green Party Press Office 01376 584576 mobile 07951 923073