LGP News - National Green Party Principal Speaker rides into town
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| National Green Party Principal Speaker rides into town |
| Fri, Apr 27, 2007 |
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The Green Party's Female Principal Speaker, Sian Berry, came to Leicester today to support Green candidates in the election campaign. She travelled from the station in one of the new-style E-Go rickshaws, to symbolise the Green Party's commitment to carbon-free transport. She was welcomed by Matt Follett, the Green Party's lead candidate in Castle Ward, who said "I am delighted Sian Berry has come to our city to show how seriously the Green Party takes the elections in Leicester. As many people know, we tied with Labour last time in Castle Ward, only to lose in a drawing of lots. We know many voters out there want to see some Green Party representation in Leicester.
We are the party and the people with fresh ideas for Leicester."
He added " Sian has shown what can be done in campaigns to protect small shops against the supermarkets muscling in on small high streets like Queens Road. We'll continue to fight to protect smaller shops from planning applications that don't add to residents' quality of life." Matt Follett showed her some of the Clarendon Park shops now threatened by a retail development recently given Council go-ahead. Later, Sian joined Matt and other campaigners in canvassing in Castle Ward, which is the most marginal in the country.
Sian said: "Everyone in the Green Party knows how close Leicester Greens came to winning in the city centre ward last time, having tied with Labour, enduring 4 full recounts, and then the names being drawn from a hat!
"I know from visiting other cities that once places get Green councillors they always want more at the following election because of the good job they do, and because more and more people share our vision of a society where quality of life is given priority over political infighting, big business interests and badly thought out planning developments.
"I know that Matt and the others fought against the supermarket expansion in Queens Road, and I give my wholehearted support to their plans to maintain a city-wide campaign against such short-sighted planning decisions which are blighting cities across the UK. I urge everybody in Leicester to vote Green. It's a vote for the present and for the future."
Sian, 32, is the Green Party's Principal Speaker and London Mayoral candidate. Previously the Party's national Campaigns Co-ordinator, she has become one of the best known faces in the national political media.
Sian is one of the founders of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, which is a national campaign demanding sensible measures to stop big 4x4 vehicles taking over our cities. Supporters of the campaign have placed more than 100,000 of Sian's spoof 'parking tickets' on 4x4s in the past three years, and held theatrical demonstrations outside schools and car dealerships in towns and cities across the country. As spokesperson for the Alliance, and a well known Green Party figure, Sian has received wide coverage in national and international newspapers and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, from the Today Programme and Question Time, to Richard and Judy. Working on a wide range of issues in London, Sian has supported local shops, markets and services threatened with closures, takeovers and redevelopment. |
