8th May 2008

Cllr Sarah Lunnon, Stroud District Council Green party group leader, thanks Green voters as Greens welcome their sixth councillor to the group. For result details click here.

I would like to thank all those who voted Green in the recent elections. It does, and will continue to make a difference. Never before have Green voices been needed to work for more sustainable, just and far-sighted policies to build and strengthen our communities. In Stroud District, Greens were the second party after the Conservatives in terms of total number of votes.  Greens won Nailsworth with Fi Macmillan and now have 6 seats, one less than Labour and one more than the Lib Dems.

Stroud District however remains a sea of 31 blue seats and while we applaud the Tories moves to "go Green" as claimed in their election leaflet, they still have  long way to go. Perhaps we will take their claims more seriously when  they drop plans to expand airports, build ever more roads, ditch Trident's £78 bn replacement, get us out of Iraq, oppose more nuclear reactors and recognize that without a sustainable environmental basis there will be no economy never mind economic growth.

Nationally Greens have made gains: two London assembly members, they are now the official opposition in Norwich and made breakthroughs in areas where there were previously no Green representatives. This election again highlights the need for a fairer political system, where Green votes would be properly represented in Stroud and other Councils around the country.People are showing increasing faith in us, and we expect to reward them by going from strength to strength, and delivering the green policies that people so clearly want.

Cllr Sarah Lunnon, Leader of Green Party Group on Stroud District