25th March 2007

Madam - Martin Kirkman has my sympathy (SNJ letters). The controlling factions of the Labour Party have certainly taken a breathtaking lurch to the right under Blair and Brown, with an opportunist and market centred view that is a million miles from the mixed economy, people-centred socialism of Nye Bevan. New Labour, as Martin says, is now just another party of the right which has left behind those of its rank and file with traditional Labour values such as Martin and his friends. Traditionalists such as Ken Livingston can only beat the system if they are able to wield real power, otherwise they become dissilusioned like Clare Short, or are sacked if, like Michael Meacher, they try to maintain their views.

In fact Martin and his like should feel that their party loyalty has been thoroughly and contemptuously betrayed. I invite him to read the policies set out in our Green Party local election leaflets, where I think he will find much that he agrees with. There are many disaffected Labour supporters who are now members of the Green Party. Of course he is right that the Green Party is unlikely to form the next government, but our support is rapidly rising and we are very strong locally. Martin believes that the "solution is in co-operation" and I entirely agree. A few years ago, the "rainbow alliance" of co-operating Labour, Green and Lib-Dem councillors ran a successful and open administration at Ebley Mill and could do so again, and the key to regaining that power and ousting the market-led Conservatives must be more co-operation.

In wards such as Nailsworth, the last three successive elections have seen the Green candidate a very few votes behind the Tory, with Labour polling less than half of the Green vote. With a little co-operation, we could oust the Tory and continue our joint fight to win back Ebley Mill.

Chris Harmer, prospective Green Party candidate for the Nailsworth ward of SDC.