Letters to the press: Local elections

Defection of Labour Councillor Denis Knowles to the Conservatives.
The public is understandably angry with the mainstream political parties following recent events. On top of this we in Wirral have had the shocking defection of Labour Councillor Denis Knowles to the Conservatives. Read more...
Patrick Cleary, May 2009

Aggressive tactics of BNP
Chris Robinson and Terri Langan are right to highlight the aggressive tactics of the BNP (letters, February 11th) Read more...
Patrick Cleary, February 2009

Vote Green to secure our future
With virtually nothing to separate the mainstream parties it is only the Greens that are offering a radical alternative to improve the quality of life for everyone in Wirral. Read more...
Patrick Cleary, April, 2007

Greens are the new force in Wirral
The Green Party is emerging as the new force in politics in Wirral. We easily achieved our best ever result with well over 5,000 people voting Green. Nationally, we gained 20 new councillors. Read more...
Patrick Cleary, May 2006

Defection of Labour Councillor Denis Knowles to the Conservatives.

The public is understandably angry with the mainstream political parties following recent events. On top of this we in Wirral have had the shocking defection of Labour Councillor Denis Knowles to the Conservatives. This raises many questions. How on earth did Councillor Knowles vote in favour of the Strategic Asset Review just weeks before his defection? Was his defection by any chance linked to his removal as vice chair of Merseytravel for which he was reportedly paid Ł25,000? How can he look his constituents in the eye following his betrayal of their trust in him?

Just as important, how can the Conservatives accept such an obviously self-serving member into their ranks? If the time has come to clean up politics then surely political parties need to develop some back bone and put aside their own grubby desire for power at any cost. Clearly this is beyond the local Conservative Party.

Pat Cleary, May 2009, Green Party

Aggressive tactics of BNP

Chris Robinson and Terri Langan are right to highlight the aggressive tactics of the BNP (letters, February 11th). What many people may not realise is that the North West is their number one target constituency for the European elections on June 4th .

It is very likely that the party finishing in fourth position will secure a seat. This battle for fourth place is shaping up to be a straight contest between the Green Party and the BNP.

It is therefore vital that progressive and left-leaning voters of all colours back the Green Party. This is by far the best way to ensure that a positive green vision for the future of our region is heard in Brussels and not the far-right policies of the BNP.

Patrick Cleary, February 2009

Vote Green to secure our future

With virtually nothing to separate the mainstream parties it is only the Greens that are offering a radical alternative to improve the quality of life for everyone in Wirral.

A Green Council would:

• Tighten planning procedures and prevent the plague of new flats blighting many areas of Wirral.
• Institute a radical overhaul of the transport budget giving a much higher priority to public transport, cycling and safe routes to school for children.
• Ensure easy access for all residents to local health services.
• Give strong support to renewable energy, unlike the Tories, whose opposition to wind power exposes the hypocrisy behind the vote blue, go green rhetoric.
• Prevent the scandal surrounding the Merseyside Pension Fund, which invests millions of pounds in weapons companies.
• Support noise affected local residents whose lives are blighted by the expansion of Liverpool airport.

The grey parties all represent outmoded thinking that is failing to adapt to the enormous social and environmental challenges of the modern world. The future has to be green and voting Green is the only way to secure that future.

Patrick Cleary
April, 2007

Greens are the new force in Wirral

The Green Party is emerging as the new force in politics in Wirral. We easily achieved our best ever result with well over 5,000 people voting Green. Nationally, we gained 20 new councillors. We also have our first elected representative in Liverpool.

This upsurge in Green support reflects the positive message the party has to offer. Up and down the country Green councillors are achieving real progress in boosting energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty, protecting our open spaces and saying no to yet more supermarkets. As we have in other areas, Greens would ensure that Wirrals lamentable record on recycling was urgently addressed.

Our support also reflects the growing disillusionment with the grey parties who talk about social and environmental justice yet are still advocating more road building and are failing to adequately invest in social housing. Is it any surprise that our vote soared in New Brighton when the same parties that talk about sustainable development vote on mass for a supermarket, petrol station and flats on the seafront. People are rightly fed up with greenwash and are voting in increasing numbers for the real alternative.

How can councillors claim to be engaging with local residents when turnout in some wards last Thursday was as little as one in five? Across the borough barely one in three bothered to vote. Local politics in Wirral urgently needs an injection of real enthusiasm accompanied by a vision of a fairer and sustainable society. Only the Green Party has that vision and enthusiasm.

Patrick Cleary
Green Party (Wirral)
May 2006