Regional Green Party meeting plans for first Euro seat

19 May 2008

Green Party members and councillors from across the six counties of Eastern Region met in Witham, Essex over the weekend to plan for the 2009 European elections, at which the Greens are aiming for their first seat in the region.

To date the Greens in the UK have held 2 seats, in London and South East regions, since 1999.

The regional meeting also discussed the successes from the May 1st local elections, which saw the Green Group on Norwich City Council add another 3 councillors to become the second largest party, a first seat on Cambridge City Council and all defended seats held. The Green vote also increased in many council areas making further gains next time a very real prospect.

Overall, the Greens stood 170 candidates - a record 41% of all seats up for election in the region - and averaged 10.8% of the vote where they stood - enough to be on course to gain a seat under the proportional system to be used for the European elections in 2009.

Cllr. Rupert Read, Lead candidate for the 2009 European Elections in Eastern Region said:

"The meeting in Witham was very positive. We now have in place our Euro 09 Campaign team of officers and candidates and are looking forward to building the Green campaign to win a seat next year. The Green MEPs Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert have made a big contribution over the last 9 years and I hope that they will be re-elected and that more Greens, myself included, can join them in a stronger Green Group in the European Parliament next year.

Eastern Region faces big challenges ahead, including totally unsustainable Government imposed development targets and the threat of dangerous climate change. The Green Party does not accept that either is inevitable. We want to see the region becoming a much more sustainable place, where quality of life and the protection of the environment are at the top of the agenda.

At our meeting we discussed many of the areas where Greens can, and are, making a difference - supporting renewable energy, opposing unsustainable road building and airport expansion plans, fighting to keep local post offices and opposing privatisation of the NHS. These are radical policies that give voters a clear alternative to the pro-big business stance of other parties - who are letting the public down time and again. The other parties are good at thinking up slogans but don't deliver what they promise.

We also intend to make good governance a key part of our campaign. It is scandalous that certain MEPs who openly take full advantage of parliamentary expenses and allowances to their own personal benefit do far too little actual work in return. I pledge to make sure that as a Green MEP, my work will be transparent and open to scrutiny."

For further information:

Eastern Region Green Party Press Office Cllr. James Abbott 01376 584576 mobile 07951 923073
Eastern Region Green Party Election Agent James Youd mobile 07761 242146
Euro 2009 Lead Candidate Cllr. Dr. Rupert Read 01603 219294 mobile 07946 459066