WITH the Election over and the hung parliament scenario very much in full swing we now have five years of the coalition between the Conservatives and The Liberal Democrats running the country.
We know that many voted Liberal Democrat for what they thought would be the chance of gaining a progressive and democratic political system. We now know that this is extremely unlikely and that some voters feel more disenfranchised from politics than ever before.
To reject the principle that was one of the flagship policies, electoral reform, for power is surely a huge betrayal of the nearly seven million voters, all spin and shiny smiles will only last for a short time as the savage cuts begin to take serious effect.
But here in the South West we have a party that is growing. Not only did the Green Party elect its first ever MP to the Parliament but we also saw an increase of the vote in the South West.
Further to this, in the South West, we were just a few thousand votes short of getting a Green MEP in our region.
We are a party that says what it believes and stands by its principles, yet will always be open to listening and exploring new ideas, we are progressive in our thinking, and we look to the future rather than making short term decisions.
The Green Party has always been at the forefront of environmental policies, from which other parties follow, but those policies do not stop there.
We believe in social justice, a better tax system in which 87 per cent of people would be better off and understand the need to good, well insulated social housing.
We would never swerve from our commitment for a better democracy, fairer education and an economy that is based upon real work that benefits us all, rather than the few.
We invite disenfranchised Liberal Democrat members, councillors etc, to join the Greens if they feel strongly that they wish to switch allegiance to a party that does not, at the first chance, ditch their morals upon the offer of a cabinet post or ministerial office.
Already, across the region we have heard of two Lib Dem councillors that are quitting the party to switch to us.
We are a progressive party and can offer assurances that we remain strong and true to the ethos for which we stand for.
We urge Liberal Democrats to contact their local Green Party and chat with them. These details can be found by going on the South West Green Party website: http://www.southwest.greenparty.org.uk">www.southwest.greenparty.org.uk .
Ryan Cleminson
Green Party South West Co-ordinator
Cllr Paula Black
South West Green Party Press Officer
by email