1. Stroud District Green Party (SDGP) strongly believes that constituencies should be based as far as possible on natural similarity of area and existing community connections. The current proposed Cotswold Constituency completely fails in this regard, linking together a vast sprawling area of communities with no historic or current connections or similarity of geography. Numbers have trumped common sense which is not acceptable.

2. SDGP therefore strongly object to the inclusion of Bisley, Chalford, Hardwicke, Minchinhampton and Painswick with Upton Wards in the Cotswold Constituency. All of these communities have important current links to the Greater Stroud area and associated services of health facilities, transport hubs, schools, college, retail, leisure and District Council facilities (or to Gloucester e.g. in the case of the Parishes of Upton St Leonards, Hardwicke and Hunts Grove). It makes no sense to remove them from the Stroud Constituency which they are an integral part of and to include them in a Cotswold Constituency to which they have few or any connections. A Cotswold wide MP would have very little understanding of the very different Stroud communities with their different histories, valley topography and service connections. They are all intrinsically linked to the ‘Five Valleys’ that make-up Stroud.

3. SDGP consider it appropriate that Wotton-under Edge and Kingswood Wards are included in the Stroud Constituency as in the current proposals. They are part of Stroud District and look towards Stroud for services as well as other service centres in the Stroud Constituency including their neighbouring towns of Cam and Dursley.

4. SDGP recognises that in order to follow natural and community divisions, the use of ward boundaries in some rural areas has insufficient granularity. We therefore recommend the option in specific circumstances of crossing ward boundaries and using either parish or polling district boundaries. In this context Standish and Painswick Parishes have a stronger connection to Stroud than some other parts of the wards they are in.

The post Stroud District Green Party Response to the review of Constituency Boundaries appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Stroud District Green Party has opened a call for candidates to stand in the 2021 District Council elections.

With Green leadership, Stroud District Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2018, and the Council is now working on an ambitious plan to make the district Carbon Neutral by 2030. As we head towards elections for all 51 Council seats, Stroud District Green Party is seeking candidates who can bring their skills, expertise and passion to making that plan a reality.

Community members and campaigners from across Stroud District have been at the forefront of tackling climate change: from transition town groups and eXtinction Rebellion activists, to local climate action groups and entrepreneurs running sustainable businesses.

As a grassroots political party, we are keen to support green-minded local residents who want to take the next step in creating change, by running to be elected to the District Council.

A new guide, “Stand for what you believe in: Be a Green Party Councillor’, produced by the Green Party and the Local Government Association (LGA) provides more information about the role of a Councillor, and we’ve addressed some of the questions you might have in our FAQ below.

Could you stand? You can find an application pack with nomination forms at the bottom of this page.

Being a Green Candidate: Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you looking for?

Councillors represent the ward for which they are elected, and are part of the policy and decision making of the Council. They play an important communication and community leadership role: connecting between local and District wide action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about addressing climate change, and building inclusive, sustainable and thriving communities across Stroud District.

We are looking for candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and skills: from housing, energy or sustainable business experts, to active community members with their finger-on-the-pulse of local concerns, able to make sure the journey to Carbon Neutral 2030 takes the whole community along.

Who can stand?

Any member of Stroud District Green Party who is over 18*, and has the right to stand in the local election can be nominated as a candidate. If you are not currently a member, you are able to join in order to become a candidate.

Potential candidates are interviewed by our elections group, and then selected by a vote of the local party.

(*The Green Party campaigns for Votes at 16, but at the moment the law only allows over 18s to stand).

What support will I get?

Stroud District Green Party elections group will work with each candidate to identify a campaign strategy for their area. This might involve supporting press engagement, or arranging volunteers for leaflet delivery. Campaign training will be available.

Elected Green councillors work together as a Green Group, and currently form the administration in alliance with Labour and Liberal Democrats. The Green Group provides a supportive space for new Councillors, and local party volunteers support Councillors to distribute leaflets and engage with the local community.

Additional support is also available for disabled candidates. Disability Rights UK administer the EnAble Fund for Elected Office.

How much time does it take?

The time commitment before the elections in May 2021 will depend on the campaign strategy for your area, and can be discussed with the elections group, and based around your availability.

If you are elected, the majority of District Council meetings are in the evenings, and depending on the committees a Councillor is part of, and their role in the local party (e.g. Leader) the role can take between 5 and 25 hours a week.

District Councillors receive an annual allowance of £5,265 and support to cover expenses (including childcare expenses)

What about Town and Parish Councils?

We are also keen to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in their local Town or Parish Council. There will also be Town and Parish Council elections in 2021.

What’s the next step?

If you are ready to apply as a candidate get in touch with our elections co-ordinators Helen Heathfield or Lynn Haanen to discuss a potential application.

If you are not able to stand as a candidate, but you know someone who would make a great candidate, ask them to stand.

Rachel Smith, Green County Councillor, talks briefly about getting involved in particular areas of interest on the council. This is relevant to being both a district and parish councillor.

The post Could you be the next Green Councillor for your community? appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Professor Scott Cato said:

“From the beginning of this crisis, our government has looked flat-footed, incompetent, even callous. But the overwhelming sense we have had is one of fatalism – which we utterly reject. We can find a way to suppress the virus so that it is contained and under control and we can offer support in their homes and regular contact – in person or by phone or app – to all those who are suffering.

An effective Community Shield would protect us all from the onward spread of this deadly virus. It is a vision of hope, based in the community solidarity that we have all experienced so strongly in recent weeks. We warmly commend it to the country. Practically, it is possible. Now we have to build the political will to make it a reality.”

The report calls on the government to work with local authorities and GPs to do the vital work of finding people with the virus, isolating them quickly, and tracing those they contacted.

Cllr Martin Whiteside, Green Leader on the District Council said:

“It is vitally important that we develop community based support to identify, isolate and reduce the new infections as we move into the next phase of reducing the lockdown and while we wait for an effective vaccine and treatment to be developed. This report is a major contribution to thinking about how this can practically be done at a community level. We need to build on the massive community goodwill shown across our communities to make this happen”

The report was launched by Caroline Lucas and includes contributions from Larry Sanders, Green Party health speaker – Gina Dowding – expert in public health, Richard Lawson – GP and former national speaker and Tom Scott – media and data expert.

Read the report here.

The post Building a Community Shield to Suppress the Coronavirus appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

• Catherine Braun – the national perspective and the run-up to Cop 26
• Claire Mellier-Wilson – new democratic approaches to confronting the crisis – experiences from France and UK
• Martin Whiteside – How Stroud District Council’s CN2030 commitment is developing in practice
• Sam Munton – Wooton CAN – what a local community driven initiative can look like
• Justine Mallinson – Severn Wye Energy Agency – the retrofit challenge
• Dave Judd – Building resilience and adapting to the changes that are already happening
• Eden Kingston and Olive Coxon – Youth Climate Strike – hopes, fears and support wanted by younger people

The meeting takes place from 7.30 – 8.45pm at the Old Town Hall, The Shambles, Stroud and is followed by the members-only AGM.

The post The future of local climate action: Stroud District Green Party AGM appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

The Green Party is highlighting the crucial need for collaborative working with European neighbours in fighting the climate crisis now that the UK is leaving the European Union.

Party Co-Leader and Green candidate for London Mayor Sian Berry said: “This is a hugely significant day for the UK, no matter how you voted in the Brexit referendum. Where we go from here will say everything about us.

“No we won’t be part of the EU, but the need to work across countries, to build solutions together to stop runaway climate chaos, to protect workers’ rights and to make sure that we don’t lose precious freedom of movement  – that remains unchanged.”

“To all of these problems, Europe was wrongly presented as the cause by the Leave campaign. These problems are very real, but leaving Europe still is not the answer. “

 “Over the last 20 years our MEPs have made such a positive and vital difference in the EU and in their communities. The Green Party – from our MP Caroline Lucas to councillors and activists in their local parties – will be working hard to build a society that’s fairer and more just and we know that a huge number of people will be standing right there with us.”

Green MEPs have also shared a statement:

Pro-Europeans have a right to help shape future relationship with Europe, say UK’s Greens

The UK’s seven Green MEPs have issued a statement as a debate takes place in the European Parliament on the Withdrawal Agreement. This will be followed by a vote when all seven MEPs plan to vote against the agreement between the EU27 and the UK. 

The Green MEPs responded:

“In spite of the inspirational campaign waged by Greens and many others for almost four years, it is with a deep sense of regret and grief that we accept that the UK will leave the EU this Friday. But Brexit isn’t done; the negotiations over the nature of our future relationship are only just beginning.

“Europe is a beacon of peace in the world, upholding human rights, leading the world on climate change, protecting our environment and safeguarding consumer standards. And we believe that in the months ahead, pro-Europeans, who would prefer us to remain in the EU and who make up at least half the electorate, have a right to help shape our future relationship with Europe.

“So we urge the Prime Minister to aim for a settlement that maintains the vital legal protections offered by our EU membership. For Greens, this must include freedom of movement, a privilege we are proud to champion because it offers the chance to live, work and form relationships across 27 other countries.

“It is particularly important for our young people that we maintain the closest possible relationship with our European neighbours, as we know they are considerably more pro-European than older generations. It is their future that is being limited by leaving the EU. So, while now is not the time to campaign to re-join the EU, we will nonetheless aspire to this in the future.”

The departure of the UK Green delegation will also be a significant loss to the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, whose MEPs will be reduced from 75 to 64, as the group also includes Scottish and Welsh nationalist MEPs.

Q&A

Will the Green Party support another referendum to re-join the European Union?

We supported a second referendum as, at that time, we considered it the best way to resolve the Brexit gridlock and give people a voice. Things have moved on since then and at this time we wouldn’t campaign for another referendum to re-join the EU. Our focus now is on fighting to preserve the environmental, workers’ and consumer protections we enjoyed as part of our membership of the European Union.

What kind of immigration system do you advocate for?

We advocate for a fair and humane migration system. Given that the Migration Advisory Committee has not recommended a full shift to a points-based migration system the Government now has no grounds to adopt such a system. From the NHS to our hospitality and construction sectors, EU workers have contributed to our country’s prosperity for decades. We should recognise their contribution and not build a system that discriminates based on an individual’s wealth. We are a richer and more interesting country thanks to the people that have come here and made it their home.

Are you in support of complete open borders?

We want to build a fair and humane migration system. Our proposed system would still have check and balances but it wouldn’t be so skewed in favour of affluent workers. We need to make it easier to keep families together. Alongside this we will implement a root and branch reform of the Home Office including splitting up the Home Office and creating a new Ministry of Sanctuary. The Windrush Scandal is proof of the need to dismantle the hostile environment and the toxic culture it promotes.

Where does the Green Party stands on the future relationship with the EU?

We are in favour of close alignment with the EU, we believe that we will only propser as a country if we preserve and expand on the protections offered by EU membership. If, instead, the Government will continuing pursuing its “Singapore on the North Sea” fantasy it will be detrimental for our workers’ rights, for our consumers’ protections and for our nature.

Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement unfortunately already watered down the environmental protections that were part of Theresa May’s Agreement. If the government is serious about its environmental standards it should re-commit the UK to always having the same environmental standards as Europe’s – if theirs are improved, ours would be as well.

In short, a binding commitment to maintain a level playing field on the environment has been replaced by a non-binding aspiration to prevent the UK’s regulations getting any worse than they are now.

If the Government does not do so opens up the possibility of the UK deliberately allowing itself to fall behind Europe on environmental regulation, to give UK businesses a competitive advantage over European ones (with less environmental ‘red tape’ to deal with

There is no point in hosting, to much fanfare, the COP 26 in Glasgow, if policies implemented every day, undermine rather than expand our green policies.

What kind of trade deals will you support?

For us, key for any trade deal is that environmental protections and social and labour standards are at the centre of any future trade deals. We would follow the lead by our Green MEPs who, when discussing future EU trade deals, always asked and worked for really stringent conditions attached to any trade deal. Only through this strict conditionality will we be sure that Brexit is not used for a deregulation by stealth.

Why did the Green MEPs voted against the Withdrawal Agremeent in the European Parliament ?

Our MEPs voted against the Agreement for a variety of reasons ranging from the fact that they were elected on a remain mandate to a rejection of what they see as the politics of hate and division represented by Brexit.

What will our MEPs do now?

Our Green MEPs and their experience are invaluable resources for our movement. Throughout their time at the European Parliament they built cross-nations alliance to tackle climate chaos, make our society fairer and build sustainable development. These are the same skills and alliances we need to continue in our fight against climate chaos and to make our society fairer. Their energy, experience and activism will make our movement stronger and even more international.

The post Green Party Statement on Brexit appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Johnson appeared this morning in front of a lectern declaring a ‘People’s Government’. We are clear that these are sinister echoes of a form of populism that is more akin to that of Trumpism than Westminster, let alone Stroud. Locally our job is to hold the newly elected Conservative member to account, to ensure she tempers the most extreme elements within her party and that she genuinely puts the interests of Stroud, the Valleys and Vale first. We will work with other parties to hold Siobhan Baillie to account locally for promises made during the campaign on climate change, a positive Brexit deal and the NHS. These issues are too important to ignore once the election campaign is over.

Part of this process is about rebuilding relationships with friends from across the political spectrum, many of whom we have a long and proud working relationship with at a local level. We strongly welcome the Make Votes Matter initiative announced a few days before the election to unite Greens and Labour locally in pushing for electoral reform. This must be the focus of our energy. Never again should any party ask residents in Stroud vote for a party as the least bad option because the political system has failed them.

We regret that Labour refused to enter into talks with us ahead of this General Election to form an agreement. We see the failure of their cynical electoral strategy of frightening previous Green voters to vote tactically rather than providing a positive vision for the future for their traditional voters to unite around. We know that many of those who voted Green this time, including Tory Remainers who reject Johnson, would never vote for Corbyn whether or not the Greens were standing. Therefore this electoral strategy of trying to stop the Greens standing was both anti-democratic and deeply flawed.

The next five years will be some of the most challenging we as a community and country will face with critical action to be taken to address climate breakdown. Greens are proudly the political wing of a wider social movement for environmentalism and social justice. We are disheartened by last night’s results across the country but remain committed to securing our place in Europe, fighting for climate justice and fixing our broken political system.

Moving forward, we are committed to work with other parties to fight for a fair, democratic voting system that encourages cooperation rather than conflict.

The post General Election 2019 Results – Stroud District Green Party Statement appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Stroud is a very politically engaged community and it’s right that we feel strongly about how our community and our world are changing. What is wrong is that the current political system pits us against each other rather than supporting us in working together while respecting each other’s views.

Our archaic and indefensible voting system means that approximately 32,000 votes in 50 constituencies will decide the result of this general election. Here in Stroud Constituency the first past the post (FPTP) voting system has created a tragic, even distressing, situation with Green and Labour voters pitted against each other.  This conflict is heart-breaking to all involved because good working relationships established over many years, across many progressive campaigns, are being undermined. It is so sad that people in our tight-knit community who have previously campaigned vigorously together on many local issues have been forced into conflict by an electoral system designed to block progressive change.

It is essential that the understandable anger felt on all sides is directed against the unfair electoral system that is the cause of the problem, rather than towards the candidates and activists of the parties who are the victims of the system. Whatever the outcome of the general election locally, we feel we must work hard to rebuild trust and regain the community spirit that we so value in our town. We intend to redirect the energy and passion generated by this election campaign towards building a true and flourishing democracy in our country. Stroud has led the country on many issues in recent years and we can lead here too.

On behalf of the Make Votes Matter movement we call upon progressive parties to:

1. Acknowledge that it is the antiquated and unfair voting system that is the cause of the tension between members and activists of progressive parties in Stroud Constituency, and not the individuals caught up in this system;
2. Both before and after the election to direct our anger and despair at the electoral system rather than at each other;
3. Commit our parties to reform the voting system so that every vote counts and parties are able to work together to create formal and informal alliances to address the desperate challenges that confront our nation and the wider world;
4. To support Make Votes Matter into convening a meeting early in 2020 to enable us to work together in taking the electoral reform agenda forward.

David Drew – Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate

Molly Scott-Cato – Green Party Parliamentary Candidate

Doina Cornell – Leader (Labour) Stroud District Council

Martin Whiteside – Leader of Green Party Group, Stroud District Council

Eva Ward (Local Coordinator of Make Votes Matter)

The post Joint statement on Make Votes Matter appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Mr Maugham chatted with the public in High Street before addressing a gathering over lunch to discuss threats to our democracy and how we can defend it against disinformation and attacks on the rule of law.

Mr Maugham said:

“We know that Boris Johnson is pretty autocratic and when he speaks he sounds like Trump or Erdogan or Orbán. He doesn’t represent the values that are values of the country we love.

Brexit is not so much about the constitutional relationship we have with the other 27 EU member countries. Fundamentally, it is about the loss of values we hold dear. If our democracy followed those values then Molly Scott Cato would be in Parliament.

People often talk about the need for tactical voting as voting for the lesser of two evils, but you still only get the lesser of two evils. We need to vote for something better or we won’t get the change we need.”

Molly Scott Cato added:

“It has been wonderful to have the support of Jolyon who is such a champion of democracy and to whom our country owes so much. With growing extremism on both sides, it is important that we resist the extreme partisanship in politics that can give rise to aggressive behaviour. This sort of behaviour that does not represent the values of Stroud, the Valleys and Vale.”

The post Defending democracy appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Saturday 23rd November: The time is NOW: electing the SW’s first Green MP in a Climate Emergency, with Professor Rupert Read

An audience with Professor Rupert Read and Molly Scott Cato to discuss electing the South West’s first Green MP in a time of a Climate Emergency.

Join us for what is set to be a fascinating talk on how, in a time of a Climate Emergency, how important it is to elect as many Green MPs as possible.

Join us from 2 – 4pm in Stroud. Location tbc. Register and check location on EventBrite.

Fri 29th November: Jonathan Porritt joins Molly Scott Cato in discussion in Dursley

Jonathon Porritt, environmentalist and author will be joining Molly Scott Cato to discuss putting Nature at the Heart of Politics.

7 – 9pm at The Chantry Centre Lister Hall in Dursley.

More details and free registration here.

Monday 2nd December: What would a Green MP mean for Stroud, the Valleys at the Sub Rooms

Molly Scott Cato discusses what a Green MP would mean for Stroud, the Valleys and Vale. The potential in the area is huge, with so many pioneering Green groups, individuals, companies, schemes and projects. Stroud constituency has the opportunity to become a Green hub in the South West of England.

More details and free registration here.

The post Three opportunities to hear about the different a Green MP for Stroud would make appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.

Molly Scott Cato, Stroud Green Party and Unite to Remain candidate for Stroud said:

“I’m delighted by the response we are getting on the doorsteps with many people keen to vote Green. In such a strongly pro-European area, the appeal of our Remain position and the more cooperative approach to politics of Unite to Remain is proving very popular. Stroud has a huge reputation for being a global Green community and for being pioneering and brave. I believe we will prove this once again by electing the country’s second Green MP on 12th December.”

Joining Molly was Greg Pilley, Managing Director of Stroud Brewery and Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion. Caroline said:

“I can’t wait to have Molly Scott Cato working with me at Westminster. She has been a great MEP, working tirelessly to oppose Brexit. As an economist, Molly has the skills and expertise we need to take urgent action on the climate emergency and make the Green New Deal a success”

Molly Scott Cato is the Remain candidate for the Stroud Constituency, after the Liberal Democrat candidate George James stood aside. Both parties received a combined 21,000 votes – half the vote share during the European elections in May 2019.

The post Caroline Lucas joins Stroud Green Party for Molly Scott Cato Campaign Launch appeared first on Stroud District Green Party.