News for 2010
Council votes to support new nuclear build at Heysham and Sellafield
 A meeting of Lancaster City Council on 15th December was presented with a recommendation from Andrew Dobson (Head of Regeneration and Policy) that read: “That Council responds to the consultation on the National Policy Statements in the form drafted and attached to this report at Appendix B, and makes it clear that it supports the nuclear new build projects at Heysham and Sellafield in principle subject to mitigation of any adverse effects.” Councillor Bryning (Labour) proposed that Council adopts this recommendation. This was supported by all Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem councillors (Note 1) who spoke.
John Whitelegg (Green Party) proposed an amendment that deleted the word “support” and inserted the word “oppose”. He argued that nuclear power was expensive and dangerous, high risk, usually over budget and usually delivered several years late and is associated with serious health risks (e.g. leukaemia). He argued that we should support wind and wave power and other renewable energy technologies all of which have far greater potential to create jobs and minimise risks. Other green councillors including Cllrs Barry and Coates also spoke in support of Cllr Whitelegg’s amendment. (more…)
Tags: Heysham, john whitelegg, lancaster city council, Nuclear
Posted on December 16th, 2010 |
Greens only party fighting for free education
 The Greens are now the only political party fighting for free education The Green Party is emerging as the only one of the main UK-wide political parties which has consistently supported the abolition of tuition fees.
Earlier this week’ Green Party Leader and Brighton Pavilion MP’ Caroline Lucas’ co-sponsored an Early Day Motion (EDM 1130) with Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland’ calling for the vote on raising tuition fees to be halted’ noting that “the government has failed to convince many people that its proposals will be fair and sustainable” . She is co-sponsoring an amendment to the Government’s Tuition Fees Motion to the same effect. (more…)
Posted on December 9th, 2010 |
Green Drinks and Reggae Night – Thurs 16th Dec at 8pm
Green Drinks and Reggae night with DJ Joe Wood at the Park Hotel, Bowerham Road. Come and celebrate another year of Green action. Open to green-minded non members. Free Event
Posted on December 5th, 2010 |
Hundreds March Against the Cuts
 Green Councillors joined people from across the district marching through the streets of Lancaster on Saturday in protest against proposed cuts to public services. The March organised by Lancaster & Morecambe Against the cuts met with support from local shoppers it passed through the busy city centre on its way to a rally in Dalton Square.
For full deatils of the march see : www.lmatc.org.uk
Posted on December 5th, 2010 |
March Against The Cuts – Sat 4th Dec 12pm
 March Against the Cuts. Assemble 12 pm midday.
Thurnham St Car Park (opposite ‘Revolution’ Pub and the Infirmary).
March through the streets of Lancaster to a rally at Dalton Sq.
Organised by LMATC and supported by the L&M TUC. www.lmatc.org.uk
Posted on December 3rd, 2010 |
Caroline Lucas’ maiden speech
 
Caroline Lucas makes her maiden speach in Parliament. Click here for full speech made on May 27th durning the debate on Energy and Climate Change.
” I have an additional responsibility, which is to speak not only as the new Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion, but also as the first representative of the Green Party to be elected to Westminster.
You have to go back several decades, to the election of the first Nationalist MPs in Scotland and Wales, to find the last maiden speech from a new national political party.
And perhaps a better comparison would be those first Socialist and Independent Labour MPs, over a century ago, whose arrival was seen as a sign of coming revolution. When Keir Hardie made his maiden speech to this House, after winning the seat of West Ham South in 1892, there was an outcry. Because instead of frock coat and top hat, he wore a tweed suit and deerstalker.
It’s hard to decide which of these choices would seem more inappropriate today. But what Keir Hardie stood for now seems much more mainstream…………………”
Posted on May 30th, 2010 |
Election Results
The really good news was that Caroline Lucas was elected in Brighton Pavilion – our first Green MP!! She got 31.3% of the vote, with a majority of 1,252. (See her acceptance speach on Youtube here.)
Our second best result was Norwich South where Adrian Ramsay polled 14.9% – but Lib Dems took the seat from Labour’s Charles Clark, and we came fourth. Cambridge was also quite good with Tony Juniper on 7.6%
In Lancaster & Fleetwod Gina Dowding polled the 8th highest Green vote in the country and the highest across the North West with 4.4% of the vote – But here as elsewhere we suffered from the squeeze from the two big parties.
In her speech on the podium Gina thanked the hundreds of people who helped the Green Party’s campaign in Lancaster & Fleetwood. ( She wasn’t exaggerating – we really DID have hundreds of people helping! It was an amazing experience.Ed.)
In Morecambe & Lunesdale Chris Coates got 598 votes (1.4% ) In the Skerton west byelection Paul Andrew got 184 votes (7.1%) (more…)
Tags: election, Gina Dowding, green party, lancaster and fleetwood, vote
Posted on May 10th, 2010 |
A Personal Party Broadcast for you (& your Friends)
Just when you thought all Party Political Broadcasts were the same
” Morph or Wallace and Gromit meets serious green politics.”
And when you’ve watched it – Customise it and send it to a friend!
For more on the general election in your area see:
Tags: election, Gina Dowding, green party, lancaster and fleetwood, vote
Posted on April 13th, 2010 |
Greens Move to Save Market
In a 4 hour special Council meeting, Lancaster’s indoor market was saved by a narrow margin after a close vote on a motion proposed by the Green Party– 24 in favour (Greens, Labour, 1 Tory and 2 independents), 19 Against (Lib Dems, most Conservatives, most MBIs and 1 independent) and 3 abstentions. The wording of the successful Green Group motion is below.
Clr Jon Barry said after the meeting “Those against our motion wanted to terminate the market traders’ leases, spend a fortune on turning the market into a ‘white box’, and then a further fortune in sweeteners to attract a single trader which has only one other store and the worst possible credit rating. We felt that this option was much worse, both financially and in terms of the Council’s reputation.” (more…)
Tags: Gina Dowding, green party, lancaster and fleetwood, Lancaster indoor market
Posted on April 6th, 2010 |
Greens Lead Support to Save Market
Lancaster market has had a reprieve after the Full Council budget meeting voted to look into ways to reduce the financial losses whilst keeping an indoor market in the city . This followed a campaign by market traders and residents supported by the local Green Party to save the market.
Earlier in February Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Independents councillors had voted to close the market and bring in a discount supermarket, with only the two Green Party cabinet members voting to keep the market open. (more…)
Posted on March 5th, 2010 |
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A meeting of Lancaster City Council on 15th December was presented with a recommendation from Andrew Dobson (Head of Regeneration and Policy) that read: “That Council responds to the consultation on the National Policy Statements in the form drafted and attached to this report at Appendix B, and makes it clear that it supports the nuclear new build projects at Heysham and Sellafield in principle subject to mitigation of any adverse effects.” Councillor Bryning (Labour) proposed that Council adopts this recommendation. This was supported by all Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem councillors (Note 1) who spoke.
