He says: "There's more to the Green Party than you think. The Green Party stands for the future - your future and the planets future. We have carefully worked out policies, on the economy, crime, social justice, health and much more to achieve this."

8th February 2006: Martin's success in the 2005 election has led to his reselection as the Green party's candidate for the next General election. Read announcement.

Martin Whiteside statement from 2005 General election:

Climate change is our greatest threat. The other parties say they are concerned, but their economic globalisation policies will only make matters worse. Tony Blair says urgent action is needed, but under Labour, greenhouse gas emissions have risen. Only the Green Party has a clear strategy and the political courage for real change.


We can create a fairer world .

All three main parties put free trade and big business profit before sustainability and ending poverty . They have created a system where a better quality of life for some, comes at the expense of a widening gap between rich and poor. Green Party policies of fair trade, fairer taxes and support for the local economy would reverse this trend.  Yes, this will mean a 60% tax band for those earning over £100,000, but we think that is fair.

Greens support real investment in public services and a halt to their privatisation by stealth under Labour. Privatisation means money for shareholders, not for hospital cleaning, school meals, nurses, education and more.

We will support investment in sustainable transport, re-nationalisation of the railways and make Britain a leader in sustainable technologies, creating an additional 200,000 jobs.  We also oppose bad planning policies which leads to unsustainable housebuilding on greenfields.


We can create a safer world

Only the Green Party unambiguously opposed the war in Iraq from start to finish.  We will work with the UN to promote law and peace, rather than supporting Bush in further wars for oil, undermining international law and creating a future of distrust, re-armament, anger and yet more terrorism.   

Closer to home, we oppose the erosion of our long held liberties, including house arrest without trial, compulsory ID cards and restrictions on the right to demonstrate.  We would treat asylum seekers more fairly and with dignity - allowing them to use their skills to work - supporting themselves and our economy. 

Greens would promote more local, GM free and safer food.  This would include an end to factory farming and cruel, long journeys for farm animals.  We support a reformed Europe, with Britain keeping the Pound.


Surely a Green vote is a wasted vote?

A Green vote is never wasted, as it sends a strong message that people are demanding change. Over a million people voted Green in last year's European Elections  and we have 2 MEPs, 7 Scottish MPs and a growing number of councillors.
 
Pressure to vote for a party you don't want, to keep out someone worse, is just blackmail used to prop up our unfair electoral system. Don't give in to blackmail. One thing is certain, if you don't vote for what you really want, you're never going to get it.

We need a political programme that is for at least the next hundred years, not just the next hundred days.

More information: 01453 750962

Biography: Martin Whiteside, Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Stroud (updated 9th February 2006)

Martin Whiteside works as a freelance development consultant advising agencies like Oxfam, Christian Aid, WWF, British Government and the United Nations on sustainable rural development programmes. Martin originally studied Agriculture and Forest Sciences. His wide experience of acute poverty, environmental degradation and war in many different countries have lead him to the understanding that political change is essential to complement the technical work that he has been engaged in for twenty-five years – this lead him to the Green Party.

Martin Lives in Thrupp and is deeply committed to the Stroud area, he has been a Parish Councillor and is a Stroud District Councillor. He is married with three children, who have all been to the local school. Martin is involved in many local and national campaigns for justice, peace and international development. For many years he was actively involved in the struggle against apartheid. He has also worked as an inner city community worker and as a volunteer youth worker and has highly developed skills in working with community organisations. He is involved in parish level activities such as canal regeneration, developing a community playing field, reducing traffic nuisance and much more. For relaxation, Martin enjoys spending time with his family, walking, mountaineering and gardening.

As your MP, Martin would bring a wide range of experience from across the world complemented by real practical experience from the local level. Most importantly, Martin understands that for a future for us and our children, we need fundamental change in the way we do politics, the way we work with other countries and the way we treat the planet. Martin will provide a radical new and different voice at Westminster, prepared to work with other parties, but arguing forcefully for the fundamental changes that are needed for our very survival.

Hopes for country's first Green MP "to shake up British politics"

Extracts below from Martin Whiteside's speach on announcement of his acceptance as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Stroud District. 2/10/03.

 
We need change before it is too late. The 'grey parties' are failing us, and failing the planet. Another future is possible. Greens have a radically different approach. I plan to get that message across to people living in the Stroud District.

Today we stand at a crossroads, we can continue with more or less the same policies all the other main parties are espousing - or we can choose to go a different way.

We know where the former road is going - global warming, ever greater global inequality, terrorism born out of desperation. That road means more and more money spent to deal with the consequences of these policies - billions to fight terrorism, billions to mitigate the effects of storms and sea level rise caused by global warming, an ever greater 'fortress Europe and America' to keep out the environmental, economic and political refugees caused by these policies.
 

We must break out of this negative spiral

 

We are destroying the natural world and our planet. We know it. We also know much we can do to stop it. Yet it is not happening. We are only tinkering. Voting for one of the big three grey parties hasn't worked. It can't work. It is our political and economic system that needs changing. It is responsible for much of the damage to the world.

 

Another future is possible - Greens have a radically different approach

 

We are not just about the environment, we want to see “Localisation” of our economy not Globalisation - this means supporting local production in Gloucestershire rather than an ever freer market with more and more imports. Greens also demand public services and social justice for all, with an end to privatisation and PFIs. Greens believe in real local democracy, with local people given the power and responsibility to make the decisions that affect them. The Green Party has policies that make sense in the long term - not just until the next opinion poll."

 

 
Stroud District has the possibility of having the countries first Green MP.

 

A Green vote is not just a protest at the three big parties and the same grey policies they share, but a real statement about how we want the world to be - not only now, but for our children and our grandchildren. The Green Party links the local to the global, it is a truly international party, with Green Parties around the World struggling to build a just and sustainable future. However this global outlook is grounded in practical policies at the local level - to build from the bottom-up a sustainable future.

 

Greens stand for progress into a sustainable and just 21st Century
it's time for change! Martin lists a number of reasons why change is so urgent

War and peace -  the current Government, in alliance with an extraordinarily right wing and dangerous United States administration has lead us into disastrous war and quagmire in Afghanistan and Iraq. They need to be stopped.

Justice and Law-  international relations need to be built firmly on the principles of justice and law, not on 'might is right', otherwise we are no better than the terrorists. As a former UN worker Martin is aware of the difficulties of working through the UN system but it is the best we have got, and needs improving not undermining.

Increasing inequality - it is a scandal that in one half of the world people are dying from insufficient food and lack of clean water and in the other half major causes of death are over-weight and too much processed food. Martin says as an aid worker for the last 20 years: "I have seen too many children die from lack of food and diarrhoea - what is scandalous is that, despite our enormous resources, it is still happening now. I want to see political will to change this at the top“ it is a question of justice, not charity".

Global destruction - global warming, over-fishing, cutting the forests - we are not living sustainably. The planet hasenough resources for everyones need, but not their greed. We have the technology to live sustainably, what I want to see is the political will to do it before it is too late. Political apathy - many people, and particularly the young, are fed-up with politics and politicians. We need to make politics exciting and relevant, and give people a real say in the decisions that affect them - it is all our future after all - and is far too important to leave to a few grey politicians.

As member of Parliament for Stroud District I will support: A strong, sustainable local economy - built on the skills and resources we have in our area. Well resourced health and education - under true local control and freed from red-tape, league tables and private finance initiatives. Investment in public transport - in order to take the pressure off our roads. Britain as a leader - in global justice, fair trade, peace building and genuine disarmament. Co-operation, not infighting - with other parties and organisations in order to achieve these objectives.