20th June 2009

Sarah Lunnon wins the first Glos County Council seat for the Green party (see here and here for full County results) - see below her two letters to the local press

Photo: Greens wins Stroud East 

Letter to Stroud Life:

A big thank you to the voters who have put their trust in me. Greens gained over 40% to win Stroud East - a significant majority that indicates people want change. Indeed Greens gained 19% of the vote share across the whole District: ahead of Labour and a point behind Lib Dems.

In the Euros in Stroud District, Greens were three and four points ahead of both Lib Dems and Labour although we just we just missed gaining a South West Green MEP(i). 

Brian Oosthuysen, the previous councillor in Stroud East, writes to  Stroud Life calling for the left "to re-align around policies that include free NHS, an equality agenda, excellent  state education, social justice and care for the vulnerable - with the Greens' strong environmental agenda and the cooperative movement's sound cooperative policies all working together." 

I have to note that many of the left's policies of social justice have long been Green party policy, indeed you cannot have environmental justice without social justice nor social justice without the environment being taken into account. Indeed there is much that we share, however it is also clear that we need a new green economics that recognises that growth cannot go on and on. It just isn't possible. Greens alone in politics recognise are prepared to state this obvious fact, but it is encouraging to see others starting down this road. 

As Brian notes we need to work together to bring about the changes that
are needed. To tackle climate change, provide energy security, protect ourselves against the peak oil problem and to build a stable, sustainable economy, we urgently need green policies not green vocabulary. Greens now have our first seat on the county and I will endeavor to use it to raise these issues to build amore sustainable future for Gloucestershire. 

Cllr Sarah Lunnon,
County Councillor for Stroud East (Green), Uplands, Stroud GL5 1TN

Letter to Stroud News and Journal:  

A big thank you to those who have put their trust in me. Greens  gained over 40% for Stroud East - a significant majority that indicates  people want change. Indeed Greens gained 19% of the vote share across  the whole District: ahead of Labour and a point behind Lib Dems - but  we only have this one seat on the County. In the Euros in Stroud  District, Greens were three and four points ahead of both Lib Dems and  Labour although we just we just missed gaining a South West Green  MEP(i).

In 1988 Margaret Thatcher said that 'global warming was one of the  world's most serious problems'. Twenty one years later many politicians  are still quick to ridicule the Green environmental agenda and  slow to address the ecological and economic challenges posed by climate  change.

What matters now is what we can do together to meet these challenges  before us. The environmental movement has been accused for too long of  not understanding economics, yet it is now becoming ever more apparent  that without a sustainable environment we can not have a stable  economic system. As Nicholas Stern has pointed out, the two issues are  either side of the same coin.

At County there is much that needs Green attention, a more sustainable approach to reducing flooding, providing roads that feel safe to walk, cycle and live along, and ensuring we have a sustainable and beneficial waste policy. B. Coates who noted he'd vote for Joanna Lumley (SNJ  10/06/09)might be interested to know she supported the Green party  saying: "Greens were most likely to bring about real change." I look  forward to trying to make those changes happen.

Cllr Sarah Lunnon,
County Councillor for Stroud East (Green), Uplands, Stroud GL5 1TN

Notes:

(i) Guardian results are here\

See here for Ricky Knight's thank you to Green voters.