Eve Robinson-Morley for Mayor of Bedford

Over on Transition Bedford there is a discussion “Who will be the next Mayor of Bedford”. For this my campaign manager Ben Foley did a summary of the bits relevant to climate change in the videos all the candidates recorded for the Times and Citizen.

Here are some of the criticisms we Greens have of what the other candidates say.

Bagchi - Independent
Yes, he says he would encourage people to have solar panels, but he says nothing
concrete about how. He says the Govt should be doing more on renewables, but as the Borough is the planning authority this is a complete cop-out. We expected better of you, Apu.

Hodgson - LibDem
He says he has a policy of zero-carbon growth. That doesn’t address the excessive amount of carbon we already use, and even if he did manage to get the growth to be zero-carbon, it would still use up an ever increasing proportion of the earth’s other resources. Yes, we need an atmosphere without too much carbon in it, but we also need clean air, fertile soil, etc.
He also says he would copy Islington and Watford in having a fund for renewables - a good idea, but then both are councils with Green Party councillors. Why not come to the source of the good ideas, rather than have them recycled by the LibDems?

Valentine - Labour
His “Number 1 priority” is supporting the traffic-generating bypass. He would promote tourism from the US. Says the main thing about renewable energy is recycling. Has he ever heard of carbon emissions?

Akhtar - Conservative
Supports town centre re-development (so, lots of embodied carbon in new concrete buildings, it seems). He would exchange car parking tickets for local shopping vouchers. It’s good to know he wants to promote town centre shopping, but those of us that use greener methods of transport into town wouldn’t get the vouchers. Would increase car parking in the town center, supports the bypass AND an extra road bridge in town.

Hare - Independent
Vehemently opposes wind turbines. He thinks it’s green to fill lots of orange bags (hasn’t he ever heard of reduce-reuse-recycle?). His best policy is support for air source heat pumps, which are an excellent
technology (but he talks of bringing them in from China: why can’t they be made more locally?).

So, MPs expenses are back in the headlines. This is the sort of thing that could blow the election wide open. Of Tories, Labour and LibDems, Labour may well be hit hardest (they were in June). They seem to be going through the motions with their campaign, with less campaigning than in June, while we Greens have been doing more door-knocking in Bedford than in June. But what about the Tories and LibDems? Many people have assumed that it would be one or the other who would win the election. But suddenly that isn’t looking so sure. Game on!

As polling day draws closer we need all the help we can get to share the message of the Green Party and our vision for Bedford Borough. Unlike the major political parties we do not have a great deal of funding available to help this campaign and so we are asking all those who support our cause to get involved and help spread the word.

How can you help?

1) Tell a friend - tell your friends and neighbours that you intend to vote Green in this election, and talk to them about why. If they don’t normally vote encourage them to go out on polling day, as in this election every vote really does count as the vote is not divided into wards.

2) Display a poster - These can be downloaded from the website, printed and displayed wherever you can (as long as you have permission) put one in your window at home, put them in your car, tie one to your bicycle paniers anywhere where people will see them. If you can’t rpint one yourself then email the party via the website and we will send you some to put up.

3) Knock on doors - Like telling a friend but for the really talkative! Come out canvassing with members from the local party. We will be going out onto the streets to talk about our hopes for Bedford borough and the more the merrier, we calk to more people that way. You will be given support to do this, and you won’t be alone, please contact us if you feel you can help.

4) Deliver some leaflets - like knocking on doors but for the much less talkative. Help us reach as many homes as possible with our party leaflets, we can’t afford to pay people to post them through doors, as we’ve said we have no fuding, so offers of help are greatly received, please get in touch.

5) Donate to the campaign - We do not have great sums of national party funding, so any financial support, however big or small, is always gratefully received. To find out how to donate visit the donate page of the website, www.eve4bedford.org.uk

6) Join the Green Party - Joining the local party means you can get involved in our campaigns and events locally and nationally. The Luton and Bedfordshire Green Party are always looking for new members, who bring new ideas, new skills and energy to the group. Chekc out the national party site for details of how to join http://www.greenparty.org.uk/, or email us for further information.

7) Tell a friend - It’s the cheapest, easiest and most important so thought we’d mention it again.

Feel free to check out my Facebook page. You don’t need to sign up to facebook to see it.

Eve Robinson-Morley will be attending mayoral hustings on the dates below. These events are open to anyone who would like to attend and ask questions of Eve and any other candidates who are attending.

Wednesday 7th October, 7.30pm at Wootton Upper School, Hall End, Wootton

Sundy 11th October, 8.oopm at Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford

This is the blog for the Green Party Candidate for the Mayoral Election in Bedford. The election is due to be held on 15th October 2009.

Published and promoted by N Ben Foley 70 Spenser Road, Bedford, MK40 2BB on behalf of Eve Robinson-Morley, 21 Ford End Road, Bedford