Vote for what you believe in!

GreenNews
Exeter
E l e c t i o n Ne w s f r o m E x e t e r G r ee n P a r t y Sp r i n g 2 0 1 5
Green Party
Working for The Common Good in Exeter
Vote for what you
believe in!
When people vote on policies
rather than personalities on the
independent website
www.voteforpolicies.org.uk Greens
are neck and neck with Labour in
Exeter. Yet other parties are trying
to coerce voters against voting for
the Green Party, saying it will allow
another Party to win.
The tactical voting message reveals
a lack of faith in democracy. It
highlights the failure of two-party
politics. But the politics of the future
can be different.
The Green Party is attracting first
time voters and those unhappy with
the old parties. Some people who
vote Green might not otherwise
vote at all. People who learn more
about our policies like what they see.
That’s all good for democracy and
not likely to ‘let another Party in’.
A strong Green vote will also
demand reform of our electoral
system. We need a move away from
the bankrupt first-past-the-post to a
more proportional system as there
@exetergreens
“But I am hopeful. Through my work I’ve seen
ordinary people get involved and create positive
solutions to local problems. Co-operation,
compassion and fairness underpin this real and
lasting change.
Diana Moore
the Green Party
Parliamentary
Candidate in Exeter,
says:
“People must be free
to vote for what
they believe in. If
everyone voted for
policies rather than
tactically, or for a personality, we know that Exeter could
send a Green MP to Parliament on May 7th.”
www.exeter.greenparty.org.uk
facebook.com/ExeterGreenParty
Diana Moore has lived
in Exeter for 13 years. As
an experienced business
advisor Diana has helped
social enterprises and
local councils across the
South West. She helps
communities regenerate
their local area. This has
ranged from bringing
declining buildings back
into use to developing cooperative services to meet
local needs. Diana says:
“Exeter is a great place to live and work. I can’t think
of a better place to bring up my daughters. Like all
parents we worry about the world they’ll grow up
in. The current system is failing us. We must tackle
rising inequality and poverty, a distorted economy
and climate change. I also know a lot of people,
especially the young, feel left out by the current
political system.
is in Scotland. Also,
the more votes
the Green Party
gets, the more
seriously the next
government or
coalition is likely to
take Green policies.
The Green Party manifesto is available online at
www.greenparty.org.uk/
About Diana Moore, your
Exeter parliamentary
candidate
“So I am proud to stand for the Green Party which
shares these values and offers positive, fair and
viable policies to challenge austerity and put
people and the planet before profit.
“The Green Party doesn’t represent vested interests
– my campaign is completely funded by the
generosity of members and supporters. So I am
standing for Parliament, able to give Exeter and
its people my full commitment to work for lasting
change in the interests of the common good.”
Published and promoted by Isaac Price-Sosner on behalf of Diana Moore for
Exeter Green Party, all at 21C Blackall Road, St James, Exeter, EX4 4HE
Printed by Newsquest Printing Ltd, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 9XD
Exeter: Development today
as if tomorrow matters
People worry about extra traffic in
an already gridlocked city; about
how an over-stretched RD&E will
cope and are angry at losing valuable
green spaces. People want to be
included in shaping the future of
Exeter.
Diana talks about her
priorities for Exeter
Exeter will grow by 50% over the
next 10 years, with further growth
beyond the city’s boundary. We
do need new homes that are truly
affordable to buy or rent and many
people support this.
But we need to build communities,
not just housing estates – new
schools, GP surgeries, shops, bus
services, parks, allotments and
business space. New homes must
be built to higher environmental
standards to keep running costs low
and reduce carbon emissions.
People are rightly angry at the
Coalition’s changes to planning rules
which put developers firmly in the
driving seat. They also feel let down
by a City Council that has embarked
on a building spree with little
consultation. Many communities only
become aware of developments once
a planning application is made, by
which time it’s hard to make changes.
My experiences working with
Alphington residents shows how
involving local people can shape
new developments. People can
explain their concerns, share local
knowledge and help integrate a
new development into an existing
community.
As your MP I will work to restore
a planning framework that gives
people a proper say in how land is
used and developed.
In Exeter we need:
l
Decent, truly affordable publicly
and community owned housing
l
Insulation of old, hard to heat
homes
l
An affordable, well integrated
public transport system
l
To tackle the city’s growing air
pollution problem.
l
A living wage of £10 per hour by
2020.
Our city is changing fast – your vote
will shape its future. Decisions made
about the development of Exeter
today must create a truly sustainable
city that our grandchildren and their
children will feel proud and happy to
live in.
An alternative to austerity
The Coalition’s response to the
financial crisis in 2008 has been
the politics of austerity. The stated
goal is to cut the debt, yet this has
failed, and debt is billions more than
when the coalition came to power.
In reality austerity has reinforced
financial and corporate power
while shrinking the state. Cuts have
hit the most vulnerable hardest:
people with disabilities, children,
pensioners, the unemployed, the
low paid, the sick and carers. A
million public sector jobs have been
axed and vital public services cut,
including day centres, youth services,
libraries and public transport.
The economy’s role must be to
help people live a decent life on
our one planet. We will reverse the
damaging cuts to public services
and invest in essential services. We
will increase public spending as a
proportion of national wealth to 45%,
the same level as Germany.
This will be paid for by progressive
taxation, increasing taxes
on wealthy individuals and
corporations. We will also make
savings by cancelling Trident, saving
a massive £100 billion over 30 years.
We will clamp down on tax evasion
and loopholes to bring in £6 billion
a year, backed up by a new anti-tax
dodging law.
Investing in university
education
England has the highest tuition fees
in Europe. Exeter is the 9th most
expensive city in the country to
study. The Green Party will abolish
tuition fees and reinstate student
grants. We will also write off any
outstanding debts for tuition fees
and maintenance loans. Exeter
University student, Joe Levy, told
us why scrapping tuition fees is so
important.
“During our time at university
most of us will pay at least £27,000
in tuition fees. Other European
countries either don’t charge at all
or have fees of less than £4,000 a
year. Germany scrapped tuition
fees last year. With a maintenance
loan and living costs too, students
leave university with an average
of £44,000 debt. 73% of students
are expected never to be able to
pay off all their debts. After 30
years unpaid debts are paid by the
government. The only winner is the
Student Loan Company. They get
their money whether students or the
Government foot the final bill.
“Greens are offering a positive
alternative. Taxing individuals and
corporations, whose prosperity has
been aided by higher education,
is a fairer way to fund education.
Those who benefit from university
education can invest in future
generations, offering them the same
opportunities.”
The new business isn’t so unusual
The global drive for economic
growth has led us to an
environmental crisis, greater debt
and growing inequality. Business
as usual doesn’t work for the planet
and the majority of its people, and
the same is true here in Exeter.
scale farmers are using organic and
sustainable agricultural methods to
protect Devon’s valuable soils and
ensure high standards of animal
welfare. Innovative renewable
technologies are helping address fuel
poverty and tackle climate change.
Greens believe in building resilient
and thriving local economies
operating within the limits of the
one planet we have. We can provide
essential goods and services and
protect our environment and create a
more equal society.
The Green Party supports:
This new green economy is seeing
a growing number of co-operatives,
social enterprises and small
businesses which benefit people
and planet and make a profit. Small
n
n
n
The Exeter Pound, a new local
currency which will ensure
money circulates in local shops
and business rather than being
siphoned off by clone town
corporations
increasing funding for
apprenticeships for young people
aged 16-25 to learn the skills
needed for a green economy
Creating diverse high streets,
ensuring at least 50% of retail
floor space in new developments is
allocated for small, local business.
Our prosperity depends on investing
in our economy, not for quick returns
for the few, but for a resilient future
for us all.
As well as our wonderful Organic
Vegetable Boxes we now have
an Online Farm Shop selling our
vegetables, herbs, fruit and organic
eggs – Free Delivery!
We also offer many other products
– visit our website and take a look.
www.shillingfordorganics.co.uk
01392 832729
Organic Certification GB-ORG-05. Soil Association License No. G2572 VAT No. 631 071 186
Gill Wescott, Director Exeter Pound with
Green Party Leader, Natalie Bennett, and
Exeter Parliamentary Candidate, Diana Moore
Public services in public hands
Privatisation is seen as the solution
for everything. Over the years
our railways, utility services,
education and the Post Office
have been sold off – often as a bad
deal. There have been costly backdoor sell-offs, using private sector
money to construct and run public
buildings and services – known as
PFI. As Environment Minister, Ben
Bradshaw promoted PFI to build
incinerators. As Minister for Health,
Ben Bradshaw supported PFI to
privatise health services.
The Green Party will:
n
Stop further private finance (PFI)
contracts
n
Let teachers teach in properly funded,
democratically controlled schools
n
Bring rail back into public ownership.
We will end privatisation in the
Health Service and repeal the
Health and Social Care Act 2012.
Greens will ensure a comprehensive
health service and will restore the
public sector ethos of partnership
between staff and patients. We will
increase the NHS budget by £12bn to
overcome the current funding crisis
and increase mental health care
funding. Parliamentary candidate
Diana Moore said:
“Public services are fragmenting
as companies cut corners to win
lucrative contracts. This leaves the
NHS to provide treatments that are
not properly funded and cost more
to manage. It’s public ownership
and democratic control that lead to
better outcomes.”
Energy that doesn’t cost the earth
It is a scandal that almost 10,000
older people have died this winter
as a result of living in a home they
just can’t heat. Estonia is the only
European country with more people
living in fuel poverty than Britain.
The Green Party will break up the
‘Big Six’ energy suppliers and invest
in insulating homes, making them
not only warmer but more efficient.
This will reduce energy demand,
decrease energy bills and reduce
carbon emissions.
But where will the energy we do
need come from?
Nuclear is not the answer. It is
dangerous and costly. A foolish
investment at a time when renewables
are dropping in price all over the world.
Fracking would be a disaster. Using
vast amounts of water, damaging
our countryside forever and
increasing our carbon emissions.
Ben Bradshaw recently refused to
support a ban or a moratorium on
fracking proposed by Green MP,
Caroline Lucas. The Government
is now issuing licenses to allow
exploration of the Wessex Basin
under our precious Devon
countryside. The Green Party will
ban fracking and withdraw licenses.
Research for Green MEP, Molly Scott
Cato, shows the South West can
generate 100% of its energy from
renewables. Investing in a local
‘Smart Grid’ will provide energy
storage and meet demand spikes
and drops. We support community
owned-energy schemes and will
ensure schools, hospitals and other
public buildings have solar panels by
2020.
An energy revolution will lead
to greater energy efficiency and
security, boost innovation and create
thousands of clean green jobs.
“There are some 5,000 badly insulated
homes in Exeter which are costly to
heat and bad for health. The Green
Party will invest in a free nationwide
programme
to insulate
9 million
homes,
concentrating
on the
hardest to
heat homes
first.”
Isaac PriceSosner,
Green Party
candidate in
St James Ward
The value of a home
Around 12,000 new homes are
planned within Exeter. This should
be a great opportunity to find
a home. But the picture is more
complex.
The requirement for developers to
incorporate affordable homes is
failing. Defined at 80% of the market
rate, buying a house is still out of
reach for many in Exeter.
The private rented market has failed
too. Students and tenants are seen as
an investment opportunity. Housing
benefit is now one of the major
benefits that people reply on to cope.
The bedroom tax has penalised
many who rent and rely on benefits
too. People can’t downsize as there
is nowhere to move to, especially
as there are fewer Council houses
because of the Right To Buy. The
Government itself found half of
tenants affected by the bedroom tax
have cut back on essentials.
It is time to invest in public housing.
The Green party will build 500,000
social rented homes to high
sustainability standards which will
create some 35,000 jobs. We will also
end mass council house sales and
the Right To Buy. Our new approach
to housing will:
n
abolish the bedroom tax
n
introduce a Living Rent Tenancy
and rent controls
n
abolish letting agents’ fees and
ensure landlords are licensed
n
increase the supply of small lets
by raising the tax free amount on
the rent a room scheme.
For those with no home the Green
Party are committed to ending
rough sleeping. Local authorities
will be given the same duties to
help single people and childless
couples as families and we will end
the practice of declaring people
‘intentionally homeless.’
Diana Moore said:
“The true value of houses lies in their
potential as homes. We need less
speculation and more stable house
prices. The Green Party aims to make
renting ‘normal’, and not a rip-off.” .
Alain Cook
“My Green vote
began as a
‘protest vote’
against the
shocking state
of our British
Politics. I was
disillusioned but
I didn’t want to waste my vote...
That was two general elections ago.
I’ve learned more about the
Green Party and discovered they
offer a genuine alternative across
all areas of our life, not just the
environment.
Diana’s commitment and tenacity
will see that our community is well
represented and get stuff done.
Passion, commitment to values I
can understand, honesty, common
sense – these are all boxes I can tick
for the Green Party and no other.
Change might not be immediate
but if I don’t vote for change it will
never happen, so I have to start
somewhere.”
Bethany Payne
“I’m voting
Green
because no
other party
puts the
environment
or the most
vulnerable
people in our
communities ahead of the interests
of big businesses.”
Alan Horlick
“I’m voting
Green as I
believe that
public services
should serve
the people that
use them. Not
for profit.”
Sandhya Dave
“I’m voting
Green
because they
are the only
party who
are brave
enough to
talk about
the interconnection
between our
well-being and survival and the
planet’s!”
If elected to parliament in May Diana Moore would follow in the footsteps of
Caroline Lucas MP who was educated here at Exeter University and join the
increasing number of Greens elected to serve. The Green Party has elected
Are you one of the
missing millions?
Some 7.5 million people are missing from
the electoral register and won’t be able to
vote in this year’s UK general election.
In the Exeter ward of Duryard alone
some 3,200 are estimated not to be
registered. It is feared that a further 17
million, who did register to vote, will
simply fail to turn up on May 7th.
Traditional parties write their policies
for the people who vote! Green Party
Leader, Natalie Bennett has warned
that this is, “The old politics, the tired
politics, the failed politics.”
But it doesn’t have to be like this.
The days of a two-party system are
over and, whatever the make-up of
the next Government, it’s time to say
enough’s enough and vote for what
you believe in.
Don’t go missing yourself – you can
register to vote online at
www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
You must register by 20 April to be able
to vote in the City and General Elections.
Your voice counts!
How can you help Exeter Green Party?
You can help by:
l voting Green in the May 2015 general election and in local elections
l displaying a window poster (or something larger!) at election time
l delivering leaflets in your area
l joining the Green Party at: www.greenparty.org.uk/
l making a donation at: www.greenparty.org.uk/
representatives in the London Assembly; 162 County, District and Town councils
across England; Caroline Lucas in Parliament; Jenny Jones in the House of Lords
and 3 MEPS, including Molly Scott Cato, the first Green MEP for the South West.
The politics of the future
The Green Party believes the politics
of the future doesn’t have to look like
the politics of the past. Our values
and principles set us apart from
other parties. The Green Party is
committed to:
n
a political system that puts the
public first
n
an economy that gives everyone
their fair share
n
an equal society capable of
supporting everyone’s needs
n
a planet protected from the threat
of climate change now and for the
generations to come.
n
Leading the Parliamentary
campaign against the Health
and Social Care Act including a
demand for free prescriptions
and eye and dental checks, and
helping prepare a full NHS
Reinstatement Bill
n
Being a vocal opponent to the
economic and social damage
cause by austerity and putting the
case for investment in jobs and a
living wage
n
Introducing a bill to bring
back the railways into public
ownership.
Twitter: @exetergreens – we have more followers than any other political
party in Exeter. Join the discussion!
Facebook /ExeterGreenParty – we have a highly active page. Please Like us!
Read Diana Moore’s popular blog at www.dianamooregreen.wordpress.com
or follow her on twitter @DianaFMoore
For more on our values and
principles see: www.policy.
greenparty.org.uk/core-values.html
Read the Green Party’s full
manifesto online at
www.greenparty.org.uk
Green MP Caroline Lucas has
made a significant contribution to
Parliament including:
E-mail: info@exetergreenparty.org.uk
Write to: Exeter Green Party, c/o 42 St Davids Hill, Exeter EX4 4DT
Your vote for the Green Party is a
vote for positive politics.
Our goal is to build a society and
political system that works for the
common good.
To help with the campaign: http://exeter.greenparty.org.uk/
Telephone: 01392 410 624
Caroline has won numerous awards
for her work including the ‘Most
Influential MP’ and voted the UK’s
most ethical politician in 2007, 2009
and 2010 by Observer readers.
With grateful thanks to Nigel Cheffers-Heard for photographs of
Diana Moore on pages 1 and 2 and Jennifer Steer for the photo of
Isaac Price-Sosner on page 3.
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