A former Chair of Stroud Labour Party has confirmed she will be voting Green in the General Election on Thursday and is urging all Green supporters to do the same, and not be swayed by Labour’s argument that they need the votes of Green supporters to be sure of replacing Conservative Siobhan Baillie as Stroud MP.
Cllr Kate Kay was once active in the Labour Party, including roles as branch Secretary and Chair of Stroud Constituency Labour Party. But she left Labour five years ago after losing confidence in its willingness to work collaboratively with others.
The death in December 2023 of her husband Norman Kay, a longstanding Green district councillor, propelled her into joining the Green Party so that she could continue his work as district councillor for Nailsworth ward. She subsequently won Norman’s seat in the May 2024 local elections and became part of the now-22-strong Green group that runs Stroud District Council.
Kate said this week: “I am asking residents to consider voting Green on Thursday. The climate emergency and the threat to the natural world will not wait for us to ‘grow the economy’ and it is only the Green Party that has understood the need for immediate action and has the policies that match the challenge.
“I joined the Green Party and stood in the District Council elections in May to ensure that there was a strong Green voice at a local level.
“After years of voting for the Labour Party, this time I will be voting for Green candidate Pete Kennedy as he has the experience, energy and courage to hold the new government’s feet to the fire and make sure it makes the environment and social justice top priorities.
“The Labour Party are almost guaranteed to win this election and my vote here will not prejudice this in any way. But my vote will be added to thousands of others raising their voices at a national level and saying there is an alternative.
“These moments do not come along very often. Time is running out for us, and I want to vote for what I believe in so please join me and vote for Pete Kennedy and the Green Party. We need Green MPs at a national level to be our voice.”
