The Green Party's leader, Caroline Lucas, visited Deptford today to launch Darren Johnson's campaign to be MP for Lewisham Deptford.
One of the Green Party's key pledges for the coming general election will be the creation of new green jobs. The proposed jobs will be in areas such as public transport, renewable energy, affordable housing and care for elderly people.
Darren Johnson, Lewisham councillor and London Assembly Member, said: "The Government is planning to waste billions on renewing Trident, introducing ID cards and building new roads. I want to see that money spent properly on creating vital new jobs. Greens have plans for new jobs in public transport, green energy, affordable housing and care for elderly people. We are offering a fresh approach and its time for a Green MP for Lewisham."
Caroline Lucas added, "Lewisham Deptford is one of the Green Party's top three seats in the coming General Election. Darren Johnson has turned one of the safest Labour seats in the country into a key battleground. As an experienced London politician, I really want to see him make that breakthrough into the House of Commons."
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Notes to Editors
1. Darren was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 and is currently Chair of the Assembly as well as Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee. He was also the first Green member on Lewisham Council, representing Brockley Ward, and is now leader of the Council's six-strong Green Group.
2. In the 2006 local elections, 2008 London Assembly elections and the 2009 European elections, Greens came second to Labour in Lewisham Deptford, well ahead of both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
More information can be found at www.darrenforlewisham.org.uk, or by calling Lewisham's press officer, Anthony Shuster, on 07814 519049