Green Party to field record number of candidates in the South West
The Green Party announced today that in the South West it plans to field the largest number of candidates of any region outside London, contesting about 70 per cent of the seats.
"There's a greater need for the Green Party challenge than ever before, with the big three parties increasingly similar in their policies and none of them offering the requisite action on issues like jobs, the NHS, public transport and pensions."
In Bristol, Green Party candidates are standing in Bristol West, Bristol North West, Bristol South and Bristol East, as well as in Kingswood and the new constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke.
Charlie Bolton, PPC for Bristol South
This is the first time that the Greens have stood in Bristol North West and Kingswood.
"In the Green Party we believe in giving as many people as possible the right to vote Green," said Ricky Knight, prospective parliamentary candidate for Bristol West.
Ricky Knight, Green Party PPC for Bristol West
"We believe that you should vote for what you believe in and we are the only party that is saying we cannot cut our way out of recession: we must invest in jobs, the NHS and public transport.
"Under our current unrepresentative electoral system, the small parties suffer, but that has not stopped people voting for us: we continue to grow in Bristol West, coming second in last year's local elections with 22% of the vote.
"The Conservatives are a distant fourth in Bristol West.
"Greens also came second in the European elections and topped the polls in some wards of Bristol West.
"We aim to build on that during this election campaign: we want you to know that if you want Green, you can vote Green wherever you live," Ricky said.
Glenn Vowles, PPC for Bristol East
Nationally, the Green Party plans to field over 300 candidates in the forthcoming general election - more than in any previous UK general election.
A party spokesperson commented today:
"There's a greater need for the Green Party challenge than ever before, with the big three parties increasingly similar in their policies and none of them offering the requisite action on issues like jobs, the NHS, public transport and pensions."
Alex Dunn, PPC for Bristol North West