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Bristol West voters get the Green option

15 March 2005

Bristol West voters get the Green option

The Green Party has chosen local resident Justin Quinnel as its parliamentary candidate for Bristol West, where Bristol's most closely fought election is expected in May

A 43 year old technology teacher at one of Bristol's inner city secondary schools, Justin Quinnell has wide experience of Bristol and the world beyond. As a qualified photographer, a trained conservationist, and a guest lecturer in several universities, he has worked in Kenya, and fulfilled touring engagements in the USA and Australia. Closer to home, he helped the Bristol-based cycling charity Sustrans with the launch of the National Cycling Network. He has been a member of the Green Party for 16 years, and is married with a baby son.

Bristol West is an unpredictable seat, with all four parties attracting a sizeable vote. In the European elections in June, over 16% of the constituency's electors voted Green.

Justin Quinnell is confident that the Greens' distinctive policies and their realism on local economies, on public services, and on international affairs will mark them out from the rest.

"The Green vote in the European election showed us that people have found the confidence to vote for the party they prefer, instead of just voting to keep someone out. The mainstream politicians have done a lot to discredit politics, both at Westminster and on Bristol City Council. People know, though, that Greens are more principled, we still have our integrity. I hope that by standing here in Bristol West, I'll give local people the chance to vote as they really wish, and maybe cause a major upset."