Gary Luff
Gary, 49, who lives in Painswick with his wife and two teenaged daughters, will contest the vacancy on Stroud District Council created by the resignation of Conservative councillor Jason Bullingham.
Gary is a retired insurance company senior executive who now works in the community sector, having founded an organisation that helps people build financial resilience for a happier life.
Gary has a Masters degree in Business Administration and is studying for an Environmental Science degree. A former chair of the Painswick Playgroup, he enjoys walking, running and cycling in the countryside around Painswick.
In the 2020 local elections, the Greens came a close second in Painswick, only 151 votes behind the Conservatives, and Gary has the best chance of winning this time.
He said: “The share of the vote won by the sitting Conservatives in this ward has been declining for several years, and Labour’s vote share has also declined. That direction of travel will only continue. We know that traditional Tory voters will not automatically vote Tory this time, being disgusted at what has been happening in Government, and for them the Greens offer the most attractive alternative as we offer economically sound policies as well as genuine care about environmental and social justice.”
pete kennedy
Pete Kennedy works in the House of Lords as Legal and Parliamentary Advisor to Green peers Jenny Jones and Natalie Bennett. He is also advisor to the Green group of councillors on Stroud District Council.
In these roles he brings Green Party policies and local issues respectively into Parliament to help make change.
Pete has a degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Sheffield and post-graduate qualifications in Law; he qualified as a barrister during the pandemic.
He has lived in Stroud District since March 2021, with his partner and young daughter.
Pete is the Green parliamentary candidate for Stroud. This year will be the second time he has stood in a general election; the first time being in 2015 when he stood against Ed Miliband, then Leader of the Labour Party.
Pete has loved the natural world since he was a child, and has been focused on tackling the climate and ecological emergency since he was a teenager.
His aspirations for the district and country as a whole include greener, fairer communities and more community-owned electricity generation so that all residents can share the benefits of renewable energy.
Pete says of his ambitions if elected as a district councillor: “I would like to end the neglect by the Conservative councillors and stop them from taking people’s votes for granted. I want to make sure that we benefit from sustainable development to meet local needs, while preserving the precious character of the area. I hope to help the council improve its project management and risk management, and to continue its stable management of council finances.”
The countryside, nature and biodiversity are Pete’s favourite things about Stroud District. In his spare time he likes foraging, cycling, walking his dog and exploring the local area.
He is a member of the Campaign for Real Ale, is involved with a local playgroup and is a member of the Unite union. He is also a member of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, a professional association for lawyers.
Matt sergeant
Matthew Sargeant has always lived in the Gloucester area and has been a resident of Coopers Edge since 2010.
He has held a variety of community-based roles, including community trustee, volunteer at Upton St Leonard’s school and councillor on Upton St Leonard’s Parish Council. He is a qualified football coach and chairs Coopers Edge football club.
The thing he loves most about Stroud District is the countryside and the sense of community. He would like to become a councillor because of the opportunities the role presents to make a difference to his local community by supporting local projects and dealing with local problems – and to help SDC continue to provide value for money in the services it provides.
On a national and international level, his dream is of a fairer society that enables social mobility.
Matt is a civil servant, is training to become a lawyer and is a member of the Public & Commercial Services Union.
Matt decided to stand for election for the Green Party after seeing how active the existing ward councillor, Gary Luff, was in Coopers Edge, particular in helping to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Matt will now be campaigning, alongside Gary and fellow candidate Pete Kennedy, to win all three seats in Painswick & Upton for the Green Party.
Locally, he has campaigned against the Conservatives’ dangerous “Investment Zone” proposal, which would have suspended planning laws in areas of Stroud District. He campaigned for the reopening of Stroud maternity services and has lobbied to save local bus services.