Trial by Email
As a historical note I fought this constituency for the Green Party way back in 1992; there was no email in those days, but I did receive a number of letters from voters asking for my views and from organisations asking me to pledge support to their campaigns.
Fast forward 18 years and the printed communications have largely disappeared; they have been replaced by email. I have received well over a hundred emails from electors in the constituency, and organisations, seeking my views - our electronic age has made communication so much easier, and whilst it also makes it much easier to reply it is taking me a while to work through them.
So if you've emailed me and not yet had a reply, I haven't forgotten you, and I won't - it may just take a little bit of time. I'm sure my fellow candidates are in the same position.
Even given that it is good to receive so many. It shows a healthy interest in the elction and concern for important issues, certainly in this constituency. The main areas of concern which are being raised are also ones I share. In descending order the topics about which I have received most emails are:
- Climate Change
- Political reform (connected with Power 2010 in particlular)
- Lobbying transparency
- ID Cards
- A voice for Nature
- World Poverty / Justice (also some good linkage with climate change here)
- Save the BBC
If this is a good reflection of the concerns of the people of Withington constituency, than I am indeed proud to be part of this community.
Don't Forget the Locals
With the massive emphasis on the general election it is easy to forget that there are elections to Manchester City Council happening at the same time. There has been a gradual removal of power from local authorities under the Governments of the last 30 years and it is easy why elections to these bodies have such a low profile. You will see little mention of ward candidates from the other Parties at this time, particularly in wards which they consider 'safe'.
Nevertheless the make-up of our City Council is important, and I'll have more to say on this as the campaign progresses. We certainly want some real Green representation in there.
As well as being Parliamentary candidate I am the council election candidate for Chorlton ward. The other candidates who are standing for the Green Party in Withington consituency are as follows (and they all live in the constituency).
Burnage - Dan Collinson
Chorlton Park - James Alden
Didsbury East - Richard (Gerry)Gee
Old Moat - Rowan Smith
Withington ward - Laura Bannister
Showing posts with label Manchester Withington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester Withington. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Welcome, Power 2010 and a Forking Good Time
Hi everyone
Welcome to the inauguration of my election blog. For the next 4 weeks or so, I will posting here details of my campaign, together with comment, links and policies. I'll be extremely busy, but I'll endevour to keep it well updated
My 'Mancunian Green' blog will be in suspended animation for this period, hopefully to be revived at a later date. The ChorltonGreenParty blogspot is also likely to be quieter, with important Chorlton related matters included here.
Power 2010
Power 2010 have been running a vigorous campaign to give everyone the chance to have a say in how democracy works for us. From a widely-answered questionnaire they have come up with the following 5 most popular proposed reforms
1. Introduce a proportional voting system
2. Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state
3. Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber
4. Allow only English MPs to vote on English laws
5. Draw up a written constitution
My belief in the need for drastic reform of our political system goes back long before the expenses scandals of last year. Indeed along with many other Greens I was a signatory and supporter of Charter 88 (now Unlock Democracy) as far back as, possibly 1988.
Consequently I am delighted that the five reforms include four (reforms 1,2,3 and 5) which I believe are among the most important for a future healthy democracy in this country. I am particularly delighted that the introduction of a proportional voting system is top of the list.
There will be a hustings on the subject of political reform on the 22nd April, at the Hough End Centre at 7.30 pm, and I will have more to say on this subject nearer that time. In the meantime I was pleased to meet Power 2010 campaigners at their stall in Chorlton yesterday afternoon (see picture below of me with campaigner Rob).
They told me they were getting a very good reception; good news, although not surprising for Chorlton. A lot of people in the constituency feel strongly on this subject - I have already received 11 emails asking me to sign the Power 2010 Pledge (I have done so).
Regarding my fellow candidates. Independent Yasmin Zalzala had already visited the stall at that point; they were hoping for Lib Dem MP John Leech to arrive later. They informed me that John had signed the pledge, but they seemed to be having difficulty getting Labour Challenger Lucy Powell to sign up - hmmm - I'm sure we'll hear more on this on the 22nd, if not before. Regarding my Tory opponent, Chris Green, I didn't expect him to be my first sighting of a Tory in Chorlton for 5 years by attending this stall, and he didn't disappoint.
A Forking Good Time
From the more theoretical discussions of political reform to a bit of practical activity. Later yesterday afternoon I spent some time with Friends of Beech Road Park who were 'pricking'. The leaves left on the ground and the cold winter had compacted the ground; pricking (creating lots of small holes by use of gardening forks, or other implements) aerates the soil and aids water penetration.
Enough to work up a sweat on what felt like the first day of Spring, a contribution to the well-being of one of our remaining green spaces and an opportunity to renew my membership of Chorlton Civic Society.
Welcome to the inauguration of my election blog. For the next 4 weeks or so, I will posting here details of my campaign, together with comment, links and policies. I'll be extremely busy, but I'll endevour to keep it well updated
My 'Mancunian Green' blog will be in suspended animation for this period, hopefully to be revived at a later date. The ChorltonGreenParty blogspot is also likely to be quieter, with important Chorlton related matters included here.
Power 2010
Power 2010 have been running a vigorous campaign to give everyone the chance to have a say in how democracy works for us. From a widely-answered questionnaire they have come up with the following 5 most popular proposed reforms
1. Introduce a proportional voting system
2. Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state
3. Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber
4. Allow only English MPs to vote on English laws
5. Draw up a written constitution
My belief in the need for drastic reform of our political system goes back long before the expenses scandals of last year. Indeed along with many other Greens I was a signatory and supporter of Charter 88 (now Unlock Democracy) as far back as, possibly 1988.
Consequently I am delighted that the five reforms include four (reforms 1,2,3 and 5) which I believe are among the most important for a future healthy democracy in this country. I am particularly delighted that the introduction of a proportional voting system is top of the list.
There will be a hustings on the subject of political reform on the 22nd April, at the Hough End Centre at 7.30 pm, and I will have more to say on this subject nearer that time. In the meantime I was pleased to meet Power 2010 campaigners at their stall in Chorlton yesterday afternoon (see picture below of me with campaigner Rob).
They told me they were getting a very good reception; good news, although not surprising for Chorlton. A lot of people in the constituency feel strongly on this subject - I have already received 11 emails asking me to sign the Power 2010 Pledge (I have done so).
Regarding my fellow candidates. Independent Yasmin Zalzala had already visited the stall at that point; they were hoping for Lib Dem MP John Leech to arrive later. They informed me that John had signed the pledge, but they seemed to be having difficulty getting Labour Challenger Lucy Powell to sign up - hmmm - I'm sure we'll hear more on this on the 22nd, if not before. Regarding my Tory opponent, Chris Green, I didn't expect him to be my first sighting of a Tory in Chorlton for 5 years by attending this stall, and he didn't disappoint.
A Forking Good Time
From the more theoretical discussions of political reform to a bit of practical activity. Later yesterday afternoon I spent some time with Friends of Beech Road Park who were 'pricking'. The leaves left on the ground and the cold winter had compacted the ground; pricking (creating lots of small holes by use of gardening forks, or other implements) aerates the soil and aids water penetration.
Enough to work up a sweat on what felt like the first day of Spring, a contribution to the well-being of one of our remaining green spaces and an opportunity to renew my membership of Chorlton Civic Society.
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