Islington Green Party has launched its manifesto for the Borough council elections next month – promising to work for an economy which puts people first, hold the Town Hall to account, promote equality and diversity, and protect our environment and health.
The full document can be downloaded here.
The last time Islington went to the polls, at the Greater London Authority elections in 2012, the Green Party came second in almost every ward in Islington – and this time we’re aiming to go one better.
Earlier this month we launched our full slate of 48 candidates for the elections – with 25 women and 23 men preparing to put a Green voice back on Islington Council. The full list of candidates in the North of the Borough is here; the list for Islington South can be seen here.
In our mini manifesto, all candidates promise to:
Work for an economy which puts people first
• Affordable homes for ordinary Londoners
• Fair wages you can build a life around
• Protecting our public services
• Investing in jobs and small businesses
Hold the Town Hall to account
• An active opposition
• Devolving power to local communities
Promote equality and diversity
• Communities built on respect and equality
• Fighting discrimination on our streets
Protect our environment and our health
• Cleaning our dirty air
• Safer and more pleasant streets
• Preserving green spaces
• Fighting climate change.
Caroline Russell, a candidate in Highbury East, said: “We are proud of the range of our members who have come forward as candidates to represent the community in the Town Hall this year. Islington Greens have prepared a strong manifesto and are ready to work with Labour where we agree with them and will provide challenge where we don’t.
“On issues like transport, Labour have been slow off the mark. Greens will continue to press for effective local action to reduce air pollution and to reduce the need for local car trips, treating streets as precious public space where people (on foot and on bikes) are prioritised over vehicles and every opportunity is taken to introduce trees, more pedestrian crossings and safe cycle infrastructure.”
Charlie Kiss, also a candidate in Highbury East said: “We in the Green party have always believed in publicly run and accountable public services. We will resist any slide towards privatisation of our public services. We oppose the planned creation of a private security police force by Labour for example. Where profits are the sole objective, privatisation inevitably results in corners cut and a lowering of standards, partly because of a high labour turnover caused by a lack of job security and incomes.
“Although housing repairs has at last been brought back under council control, some contracts remain and the entire area needs to be scrutinised. We would carry out an audit of all estates to see where new council homes could be built involving residents in the plans. We would keep council rents affordable, introduce a private landlord’s register and ensure transparency with tenants and leaseholders.”
Ernestas Jegorovas, a candidate in Highbury West, said: “The Greens understand that social equality and diversity are at the heart of a healthy local economy that puts people first. Thus, the Greens will empower local communities that are built on respect; we will challenge prejudice where we find it, and reaffirm the contributions that all people make to Islington.
“We will look to devolve power to organisations and individuals who will face the effects of the Council’s decisions; local residents will have a bigger say on new developments, while working together with co-operatives and housing associations. Inclusive communities offer training and jobs to its residents to build a life around. The Green Party rejects the use of zero-hour contracts by the Council’s contractors.”