Green Party Leader visits Croydon

Natalie Bennett and The Green Knight!

Andrew Pelling in his capacity of Inside Croydon reporter interviewed Natalie

After meeting the good people of the Upper Norwood Library Campaign, Natalie and I spoke to several local shopkeepers.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Vote Green Knight

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Brendan's letter in the Croydon Guardian

Dear Editor 

Well done for your front page article last week, reminding us all that it is not just the incinerator fumes, but the increase in traffic (and diesel fumes) that will adversely affect the quality of life for those of us living downwind of the plant. Boris Johnson has said that the level of public opposition will be one of the factors which will guide his decision on whether or not to allow the incinerator to be built. The Stop the Incinerator campaigners urge you to send emails to Boris Johnson to show your opposition.

A vote for the Green Party at the Croydon North by-election would also send a strong message to Boris that the incinerator is against wishes of the people of Croydon. I urge your readers to use this opportunity to make your feelings known.

Brendan Walsh,
Thornton Heath.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

London's Green MEP comes to Croydon

Jean Lambert MEP and me

Jean came to visit the Communal Hall in the Queen's road development (Thornton Heath), where I am a trustee and secretary. Jean agreed to explore available EU funding sources to help support the hall.

Jean was also able to help with my campaign whist in Croydon.

Tags croydon, greenparty

Election called and we're called into action

The Croydon Green party have been out and about in Croydon North this weekend, speaking to residents.

A group of members from the Croydon Green Party, including parliamentary candidate Shasha Khan, have been hearing from people living in South Norwood about how they feel on a wide range of issues, including the proposed Beddington Incinerator, the amount of rubbish on local streets and the fear about decreasing police numbers. 

Liam Fretwell, Media Officer for the Croydon Greens, said: “It’s great to be on the doorstep, hearing from real people with real concerns.  We’ve learned that there’s a real hunger in Croydon North for a change.”

He continued: “We were proud to be out there, cutting through the political bickering that has blighted Croydon politics for so long and getting right into the heart of what makes Croydon such a great place: the people who live there. The dissatisfaction residents of South Norwood are feeling, with both the Tory council and the Labour ward councillors – not to mention the choice of Labour candidate – is something we Greens are perfectly set to remedy. A Green MP on November 29^th is exactly what Croydon needs and we can see now that amongst Croydon residents there’s real hope for a brighter future.”

The party will be out again repeatedly in the lead up to the by-election, which takes place on November 29^th.   

Green Team! Liam Fretwell is far right

If you want to ask Green Party candidate Shasha Khan about any issues or concerns you may have, or if you just want a chat, please contact Shasha at shasha.khan@greenparty.org .uk alternatively you can follow us on Twitter  ( @croydongreens ) or like the ‘Shasha Khan for Croydon North’ Facebook Page.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Revolution boys do it again!

One of my favourite TV shows at the moment is the 'The Revolution Will Be Televised' (TRWBT). These political pranksters remind me of Dennis Pennis. In my opinion, any programme that can highlight social injustices to a younger audience is doing a fantastic public service.

Just recently, I received an email from Dan Iles from the World Development Movement. This organisation has teamed up with TRWBT to fantastic effect. Please watch the video - link below.

Dear Croydon Green Party

The stars of BBC 3’s ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ are teaming up with World Development Movement to launch a new film today parodying Barclays’ role in speculating on food prices.

This hilarious spoof is meant to draw attention to the fact that Barclays is making profits of £500 million whilst speculating on food prices. This speculation is driving up the price of food in poor countries and drastically exacerbating world hunger.

Check out the 3 minute film: here

If you liked the film, please make sure to take action and send an email to George Osborne. Follow the link to see how.

We are trying to get as many people to watch and share this film as possible. If you could share this on facebook, twitter or email that would be fantastic.

Use the hashtags #Barclays and #foodspeculation if you can.

World Development Movement is an anti-poverty campaign organisation that fights against the policies that make poor countries poor. If you want to find out more about our organisation or sign up to our e- news please visit our website: www.wdm.org.uk

Best wishes,

Dan

Dan Iles

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Green Knight selected

Yesterday, the Returning Officer of our local party called the result of the vote to be selected as Green Party candidate in the forthcoming Croydon North by-election: I won!! Thank you to everyone who voted for me.

I've decided to publish my 300 word statement that accompanied the ballot papers:

A knowledgeable voter in Croydon North would be cynical of Members of Parliament and the governments they form. He or she would be keen on seeking out an alternative, especially as the convergence of the established Westminster parties and the death of ideological politics reduces the real value of their vote to practically nil. What further reduces the value of their vote is the fact that Croydon North is the safest Labour seat in London.

Hansard Society published the results of its annual audit of political engagement and declared that “indifference has hardened into something more significant, and disturbing.” Apathy is omnipresent.

Earlier this year a poll conducted by YouGov showed 62 per cent of the 5000 adults they surveyed felt that, “politicians tell lies all the time – you can’t believe a word they say.”

Step forward Croydon’s Green Knight! With such a backdrop, surely its time make use of the moniker I was nicknamed for my continued fight to improve the quality of life for the people in Croydon North, where I have lived for over 30 years.

My work in the area includes founding Friends of Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, working with local mums and dad’s to stop a mobile phone mast being erected outside a nursery in Selhurst, and campaigning to stop over-development in Upper Norwood.

Additionally, I am founder and Secretary of the Stop The Incinerator campaign and Trustee/Secretary of the Bensham Manor Communal Hall.

I have stood as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Croydon North on two previous occasions.

Given the unique circumstances that surround  by-elections: the protest vote, the low turnout, the proximity of the next General Election, not forgetting the disillusioned 14 per cent who voted Lib Dem in 2010, I feel we can poll considerably more than creditable number....we could even win.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

TUC March - A future that works - October 20th

With Croydon North in mind, a sly look as we pass the House of Commons.

Jay, Gordon and me at Temple

Walking past 10 Downing St

The Green Party is set to take its place in a march to call for a better future for everyone – with two of its highest-profile members leading from the front.

Sutton & Croydon Green Party will be joining Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas on London’s streets on Saturday, joining thousands of others to demand A Future That Works.

Sutton & Croydon Green Party spokesperson Shasha Khan said: “The Government’s policies of cuts and privatisation are damaging the economy and hurting the most vulnerable in society. We need to build a more sustainable economy, create jobs and protect public services like the NHS and schools.“

The march has been organised by the Trades Union Congress, in protest against the Coalition government’s economic policies and to call for a new focus on investment to spark economic recovery.

The TUC, in common with the Green Party, opposes the government’s relentless cuts, which are reducing the state, slashing services, removing assistance from society’s most vulnerable and leaving a generation of talented young people unable to find work.

The policies are also failing to deliver the single achievement to which the government claims it is dedicated – cutting the UK’s economic deficit.

In fact, instead of reducing the deficit by 4.6 per cent as the government promised, nearly two and a half years of ‘austerity’ measures forced it to grow by 22 per cent between April and August.

Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett said: ‘We’re marching with hundreds of thousands of others to give the government the message that we have to invest in the future. The government can’t continue with its economically illiterate cuts. We must invest in decent homes, renewable energy, public services, public transport and the infrastructure we need to bring manufacturing back to Britain. We must restore food production systems within this country. All of these things are urgent, and need investment and planning to deliver.

This investment must be used to assist young people in finding fulfilling and worthwhile work. 

The Princes Trust has revealed that the number of young people in the UK out of work for more than two years has increased by 168 per cent since February 2008.

‘Our young people are doing all the right things to secure a job and future, but we’re not doing right by them.’

The march leaves Victoria Embankment at 11am, and will end with a rally at Hyde Park.

Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

ENDS

Tags croydon, greenparty