Green Party of England and Wales fights 1,300 seats.

Green Party of England and Wales fights 1,300 seats.

The Green Party is fighting the local elections hoping to increase its 70 existing councillors, this is a major challenge given that local elections are fought on the first past the post system, every Green vote is however a powerful vote for sanity. A big green vote will help accelerate Blair's exit, build the campaign against waste incineration and push for peace.

I aim to canvass for Penny Kemp in Headcorn ward, Maidstone, Kent....Penny's is ex-Green Party chair and the founder of Headcorn Sustainability, she is in a strong position to beat the conservatives. I will also be working in Kentish Town and Brockly wards London, where the Party has a strong chance of winning.

Please help in the elections, canvassing, leafletting, putting up posters and encouraging friends to vote Green is vital.

To get involved contact the Green Party of England and Wales or your local Party or mail me on wallddd at hotmail.com!

BBC: Wednesday, 5 April 2006, 15:17 GMT 16:17 UK

Greens outline electoral campaign
The Green Party's Keith Taylor
Greens say the voting system makes it difficult for smaller parties
The Greens are fielding more than 1,300 candidates at next month's local elections - with "big gains" expected in a number of London boroughs.

Peter Cranie, the party's elections co-ordinator, says he hopes seats will be secured in places like Camden, Islington and Hackney.

"We are also looking to potentially make gains in Manchester, Sheffield and Huddersfield," he said.

More than 4,000 council seats will be decided in the 4 May elections.

Voting disadvantages

"With a total of 70 sitting councillors already and over 1,300 candidates, the Greens are the emerging force in local government," said Mr Cranie.

This is despite the use of the first past the post voting system "that makes representation difficult for smaller political parties", he said.


2006 ENGLISH ELECTIONS
32 London boroughs
36 Metropolitan authorities
88 District councils
4 Mayoral elections


"We are confident of further gains, particularly in the London boroughs, and are the strongest challengers to Labour and the Liberal Democrats in a number of wards."

The Greens are also targeting councils in Norwich and Oxford where they already hold the balance of power.

The party will officially launch its local election campaign in central London next Tuesday.

Contests will take place in 20 English unitary authorities, 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan districts and 88 English shire districts.