Sharon, who lives in Stockland near Axminster, is an excellent and refreshingly different candidate. As a mother of two running her own business she understands the pressures ordinary people face and is undogmatic in her approach to politics. She is currently working extremely hard to travel around the constituency to meet people and listen to their concerns.
Her recent conversion to the Green Party reflects a growing trend, with membership rapidly increasing throughout the South West. A lot of people are fed up with the tired old policies of the "grey" parties and Sharon's candidacy will give us a genuine alternative - the first female Green to stand for East Devon in a General Election... that's got to be worth supporting!

Street Stall; Saturday March 27th. 10am-12pm. Town Centre.
Public Meeting; Wednesday March 31st. 7.30-9pm. Room 2, The Institute, Ottery St Mary.

If you would like to find out more about your local Green Party please contact Diana Neal on 01395 263728 or email diananeal@mac.com You can also find meeting dates and more at www.sharonpavey.org

In the South West we will be fielding the largest number of candidates of any region outside the capital, contesting about 70 per cent of the seats.Dr Sam Moss who has just been selected for Torbay, was for 9 years a Royal Marine and has seen active service overseas. Sam is firmly against the war in Afghanistan stating " The war is immoral and counter productive, a war over America`s energy interests, how is that in the interests of us. People need to be given the opportunity to vote for a party that understands that we are fully dependent on the way we treat the planet and the people who live here, there can be no solution to societies problems without understanding how we are all linked. "

This year the Green Party is pursuing the same targeting strategy that has seen the party treble its number of council seats in a decade. Most recently 2 county councillors, Sarah Lunnon in Gloucestershire, and Paula Black in Devon. Paula is standing in Exeter against Labour's Ben Bradshaw, hoping to cut a four way split, the signs are hopeful. In South Devon where membership has grown from 30 to nearly 400 in less than 2 years, now the largest Green Party in the country, recent polls show that the Greens are the party that could bring surprise results.

In Bristol, Green Party candidates are standing in Bristol West, Bristol North West, Bristol South and Bristol East. Later this week the Greens will announce their candidate for Kingswood. This is the first time that 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. "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.

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.

"Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP is tipped by pollsters like ICM and YouGov, as well as being the favourite with bookies, to win Brighton Pavilion. Deputy leader Adrian Ramsay is fighting hard in a city where the Greens now have twenty councillors, which is more than the Conservatives and Lib Dems put together, and where the incumbent Charles Clarke keeps forecasting a disaster for his own Labour Party. And Darren Johnson is well known as the chair of the London Assembly, and has turned a safe Labour seat into a key election battleground."

The conference is being held in Brighton this year to underline the strength of party leader Caroline Lucas MEP's bid to win a Westminster seat in Brighton and Hove. Conference will look ahead to the next General Election, and Caroline Lucas's opening speech will include a swingeing attack on both the government and the banks over the ongoing financial crisis.

Our local members go to Conference fresh from a strong vote for the party in the South West in the recent local and European elections. These elections saw the party gain its first two county councillors in the region – in Devon and in Gloucestershire – and come within 12,000 votes of gaining its first Green MEP for the South West.

Caroline Lucas's speech is scheduled to be broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel (Freeview channel 81) on Saturday 5 September, 2130-2200.

Read a full conference preview on the national website.

He told the meeting:

"There is still a ban on same-sex civil marriage. Instead of repealing this discrimination, the government has reinforced and extended it. Civil partnerships are for lesbian and gay couples only. Straights are banned. Conversely, marriage remains reserved for heterosexuals, to the exclusion of LGBT people. Two wrongs don't make a right. In addition, gay-supportive churches that want to conduct civil partnerships are prohibited by law from doing so.

"The Greens are the only party that supports an end to the ban on same-sex marriage. We want marriage equality. This means giving lesbian and gay couples the right to marry in a registry office, just like heterosexual couples.

"The current Equality Bill is supposed to harmonise the uneven patchwork of equality legislation, to create a common framework of equal rights law. It doesn't. Harassment based on sexual orientation is explicitly exempted. This exemption applies to schools. They will have no legal obligation to prevent the harassment of LGBT pupils, despite the pandemic of homophobic bullying. In addition, Labour says faith schools will be allowed to promote their own religious values, which often include negative, anti-gay teachings.

"The government and the National Blood Service support the policy of automatically banning all gay and bisexual blood donors for life, regardless of their current sexual behaviour and HIV status. This is an irrational, bigoted ban. Most gay and bisexual men do not have HIV and will never have HIV. Those who have only safe sex and who test HIV negative can give blood safely. Banning them is contributing to the shortfall in blood donations.

"Successive Labour Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits to Jamaican reggae singers, like Buju Banton, who incite the murder of lesbian and gay people. Inciting murder is a serious criminal offence. Yet these singers are allowed to come to Britain, while the leader of the US Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, has been banned from Britain for two decades. I may disagree with his views, but he has never incited violence against anyone. Why the double standards?

"The government, police and Crown Prosecution Service permit record stores and radio stations to promote songs by these singers that encourage the killing of LGBTs. Neither Labour nor Tory ministers would tolerate similar "murder music" against Jewish or black people. Why aren't lesbian and gay people receiving the same legal protection against incitements to kill them?

"The Home Office often refuses asylum to LGBT refugees, many of whom have been jailed and tortured in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jamaica, Iran and Uganda. The Home Office says they won't be at risk if they go back home, hide their sexuality and stop having gay relationships. It never makes such onerous demands on political, religious or ethnic refugees," said Mr Tatchell.

The South-West LGBT coordinator Ryan Cleminson said "To have Peter visit Bournemouth was a great honour and It was a very interesting debate and talk and I thank him for coming".

Further information:

Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790

peter@petertatchell.net

Ryan Cleminson, Coordinator of the SW Greens LGBT group said: “The Government of Gibraltar is required by European Court of Human Rights rulings to equalise the age of consent for same-sex relationships. I urge David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to intervene and let Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Peter Caruana know that Gibraltar cannot be allowed to evade its human rights obligations." 

Human rights campaigner and Green party spokesperson, Peter Tatchell said: "The equalisation legislation should have been sponsored by the government and not introduced as a private member’s bill. I am very surprised and disappointed that this was a private member's bill and not a government bill. The government gives the impression that it is trying to evade its responsibility to uphold equality and human rights. As a British Overseas Territory, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has ultimate responsibility for ensuring Gibraltar’s compliance with human rights law. Why was the legislation suddenly rushed through parliament, when a number of MPs were overseas and when there was insufficient time for a considered debate and amendments?"

Notes:

(i) www.petertatchell.net

"May I thank readers who voted for the Green Party in the recent elections. In the Europeans, our vote increased by 44% compared to 2004. In the South West we were the only main party to increase our percentage share of the vote. This would have been enough to have won a seat last time when there were 7 seats, yet, disappointingly, we only returned 2 UK Green MEPs to Brussels.

"Despite beating the party of government into fifth place by 25,000 votes with our 144,000 share, this is only slight compensation for just losing out on the final seat to the Conservatives by a mere 12,000 votes – not a lot in terms of a total SW electorate of 4,000,000.

"However, there is much good news. Greens broke through onto four more county councils where we hadn't previously been represented, including Devon and Gloucestershire. We've gone ahead of Labour in the South West and ahead of the Tories in two of England's biggest cities and ahead of everybody in Brighton and Norwich. This bodes well for the forthcoming General Election.

"The European Green Party had some excellent results and has now moved to be the fifth largest block in the European parliament, with a gain of 10 seats to 54 - mainly thanks to a surge in support for 'Les Verts' in France. Greens are a major political force to be reckoned with and are gaining the trust of more and more voters, not only in our traditional areas of strength, the environment, transparency and human rights, but also in economics and social policy."

Cllr Ricky Knight - South West Green Party Lead Candidate for 2009 European Elections

Ricky Knight narrowly missed out on being elected as the region's first Green MEP, missing the sixth available seat by only 12,070 votes (0.8% of those who voted, or 0.3% of the electorate).

Particular highlights in the region were a 15.7% Green Euro vote in Bristol, 15.6% in Stroud, 14.2% in South Hams Dstrict and 13.6% in Bath & NE Somerset. The Party also polled above 10% in Exeter, Mendip District and the Isles of Scilly.

This result confirms an increased support for Green policies in the region, as already shown by the party gaining its first two county councillors in the region in the local elections - see local election news.

Elsewhere, the Green party held its seats in South East England and in London, where MEPs Carolie Lucas and Jean Lambert were re-elected respectively. Interestingly, the party also polled in fourth place in these regions, but the larger number of seats there lead to the successful re-elections. (South East England has 10 seats, and London 8, compared with the South West's 6.) If the South West still had 7 seats, as it did in 2004, the Greens would have gained the 7th seat.

In Devon, Paula Black was elected councillor for Totnes Rural after polling 32.4% of the vote, ahead of the defending Liberal Democrat councillor. She becomes the first Green member of Devon County Council.

In Gloucestershire, Sarah Lunnon was elected councillor for Stroud East after polling 41.7% of the vote, ahead of the defending Labour councillor. She becomes the first Green member of Gloucestershire County Counil.

Philip Booth, a Green district councillor for Stroud, commenting on the result said: "This is a magnificent result - and across Stroud District, Greens came in with shed loads of votes which could mean overall we have the second highest votes across Stroud District. We are long overdue electoral reform that would see all those voting Green represented in local Councils and Westminister."

Sarah Lunnon, who is already a Stroud dIstrict councillor and leader of the Green group said: "What matters now is what we can do together to meet these twin 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."

Sarah concluded: "As a County Councillor I will remind the administration that Climate Change is not optional, that we need action not rhetoric."

Close calls 

Green candidates also came close to being elected in other local elections in the South West. In Bristol, five candidates came in second place, ahead of the Conservative and Labour candidates in their wards, including a 31% share of the vote received by Daniella Radice in Ashley ward.

In Cornwall, Green candidates came in second place in both of the St Ives divisions, ahead of the Liberal Democrat, UKIP and Labour candidates in both cases. In St Ives North, Tim Andrewes was second to the winning Conservative candidate by only 24 votes.

Elsewhere 

In total, the party fielded 139 candidates across the South West region, for the four existing County Councils, Bristol City Council and the two new Unitary Councils, Cornwall and Wiltshire. Many of these candidates came in third place ahead of Labour.

The Green gains in the South West were matched by others around the country. The party gained its first county council seats in Cambridgeshire (1 seat) and Suffolk (2 seats). In Norfolk the Greens gained 5 new seats, brining their total to 7, and the party gained a second seat in Lancashire.

Results from the European election, also held on 4 June, are expected late on Sunday 7 June. 

Web links

• South Devon Green Party
• Gloucestershire Green Party

For further information on the Devon gain please contact press officer Paula Black on 07969 089944 or 01803 868261.

For further information on the Gloucestershire gain please contact Sarah Lunnon on 01453 767724 cllr.sarah.lunnon@stroud.gov.uk

In the new poll, conducted by ComRes (1), the Greens have overtaken the LibDems for the first time since 1989. The poll suggests the Greens may be about to match their historic 1989 Euro-election vote of 15%.

The latest poll confirms that Ricky Knight will become the first Green MEP for the South West. Ricky said, “This is very encouraging news but it does mean that every Green vote counts. I urge people to cast a positive vote for the Green Party.”

Last Sunday's Telegraph/ICM poll showed the Greens on 11%, ahead of UKIP nationally for the first time in the campaign. The Sunday Telegraph suggested that "the resurgent Greens" might win eight seats. 

And in an earlier Green Party/YouGov poll, 34% of respondents said they would either definitely vote Green or consider voting Green.

Ricky Knight concluded, "This is not just a protest vote. The public are fed up with the gravy train and are looking to elect politicians that do not abuse the system.  For example, Green MEPs Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert have refused to sign up to the second pension scheme, which allows MEPs to have an additional pension pot of up to £209,000 per five-year term, which they can begin drawing on when they reach 63."

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party leader and MEP for South East England, said: "Jean Lambert [the Green MEP for London] and I believe that the second pension scheme for MEPs is completely inappropriate and an abuse of public finances." Laith Khalaf, a pensions analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Taxpayers are charged billions of pounds a year for public sector pensions while their own retirement savings dwindle. They are likely to take a dim view of their taxes being used to fund luxury pensions for well-off politicians."

Ends:

Note to editors:

1. Commissioned by the Green Party. Fieldwork carried out 29-31 May 2009. Sample size 1,005 GB adults, polled by telephone.
2. The poll shows the following results:
   Conservative: 24%
   Labour: 22%
   UKIP: 17%
   Green: 15%
   Lib Dems: 14%
   BNP 2%
3. Ashley Mote, the former UKIP MEP who was jailed for benefit fraud, has a pension worth £174,968 and will receive a transitional payment of £32,382.
4. Tom Wise, the former UKIP MEP who faces trial for fraud and money-laundering related to his expenses, has a pension valued at £235,000 and will get a £32,382 transitional payment.
   Both men are in their seventies and can draw the final-salary pensions immediately.

Ricky Knight said today, "I urge people to cast a positve vote for the Green Party on Thursday 4th June. We have the policies to tackle the recession, ameliorate climate change and ensure that fairness and honesty is the principle on which politics is based."

This week a report from former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's thinktank, The Global Humanitarian Forum warned that climate change is affecting 300 million people and economic losses amount to more that $125 billion a year. This is more than all the present world aid says the report and it forecasts that climate change could cost $600 billion a year by 2030. Already 300 thousand people a year are dying as a result of climate changes.

Ricky Knight said,"We have a warning here that calls for urgent action. Greens have been working on climate change for over twenty five years and the more Greens we have in the European Parliament, the better chance we have for putting in place policies that can tackle global warming. The other parties have been tinkering around the edges. We need policies that secure our children's and grandchildren's future now."

Roger Creagh-Osborne, Green candidate in St Germans, said: "On the doorsteps we are finding people understandably angry over the expenses row. Britain's Green Party MEPs have been ranked above the groups of all other British parties on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste. Britain and Cornwall needs a new vision. Greens are have that positive vision for the future with our million-jobs manifesto for tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time. These elections might yet signal a desire for positive change."

The ICM poll is a national sample, and here in the South West Labour traditionally does less well. Labour sources (Alan Johnson) are admitting that they could be wiped out in Devon and Cornwall whilst the Greens are poised to win seats on both councils.

Paula Black, Green candidate in Totnes Rural added: "In Devon County and Cornwall a Green group on the new unitary Council would prove very effective in standing up against the imposition of Westminster party policies and practices. We need to see these councils run for the good of the people, not as a political fiefdoms."

Ends:

Note to editors: The poll was commissioned for the Sunday Telegraph by ICM and showed:
Con 29 (-1)
Lib Dem 20 (+2)
Lab 17 (-7)
Green 11 (+1)
UKIP 10 (nc)
BNP 5 (+4)

The Executive of Sedgemoor District Council has secretly agreed to donate a plot of publicly owned land, worth £100,000 to the Energy Skills Centre at Bridgwater College. The centre aims to provide training in nuclear skills. The publicly owned land is between Bridgewater College and the railway station.

A special evening meeting held on 11th May to debate the proposed new nuclear site at Hinkley Point specifically excluded the press and the public when discussing the gift of taxpayers land.

The details of the 'transfer' of ownership of the land have been undertaken by Doug Bamsey, Director of Regeneration, who was at the centre of a recent controversy when he secretly wrote to nuclear company EdF asking for a £750,000 donation to Sedgemoor for legal and other fees.

Ricky Knight, Lead Candidate for the South West in the European Elections expressed dismay at the decision of Tory controlled Sedgemoor District Council. He said, “Councils should always remember that they are using public funds and all decisions of this nature should be taken in an open, honest and transparent way. I am appalled that the Council should behave in this manner especially when the public are questioning the ethical and moral stance of so many public figures.”

Sedgemoor District Council state on their website:

“Sedgemoor District Council takes all forms of Fraudulent or corrupt behaviour, whether internal or external, very seriously. This is supported through the provision of an Anti-fraud and Corruption Strategy, an on site team of specialist Benefit Fraud Investigators and the Internal Audit section who work to ensure fairness.”

Ends:

Notes to Editors:

1. The Executive agreed to the transfer of  land at Bridgwater College to enable the development of the Energy Skills Centre, with delegation of the agreement of the details of the transfer to the College to the Corporate Director Regeneration in consultation with the Leader.

Minutes of Special Meeting of SDC Executive 11th May 2009 6pm:
http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ramnet/(S(3b40dg45mq0fa1jiudc0nx55))/RamNetMeeting.aspx

2. The news emerges as EdF, who plan to build two giant reactors at Hinkley Point, have gone back on their claims to build a series of new reactors without public subsidy, and are now asking the Government for financial support.

3. Financial Times article on EdF request for Government help:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1369ae48-4972-11de-9e19-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss

A mood of optimism is sweeping across the South West as Greens are finding a positive response to their polices on the doorstep and at hustings. Following the results of a recent poll where the public confirmed that they would trust Green Politicians above all other parties to put the country's needs before their own, Ricky Knight believes he will become the first Green MEP for the South West. The poll also confirmed that 34% of the electorate are either voting of considering voting Green.

Ricky Knight, the lead candidate in the South West for the European Elections is spending today in his home area of Barnstaple canvassing and door-stepping. Yesterday he engaged with the farming community and tomorrow he will be in Bristol.

Ricky said today, ”At the hustings, all candidates are referring to the palpable anger and volatility of the electorate, even though hardly any of them are daring to go out onto the door-step and canvass. They are hiding behind a barrage of meaningless leaflets and bland poster endorsements. But the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats are completely failing to concede that they are the cause of this phenomenal voter rejection - their hand-wringing, 'mea culpa' cures ringing hollow and, literally, incredible.”

Returns and reports throughout the country are confirming that the Green message is finding an accord with voters. The Green New Deal - a £45 billion investment to create 1 million jobs and lay the foundations for a sustainable and fair society is the credible alternative to the economic crisis.

The Green New Deal will:

• Regulate banking and close tax loopholes
• Invest massively in renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Invest in public transport and in waste management
• Create more affordable housing for rent
• Provide free insulation for homes, schools and hospitals
• Introduce green workforce training
• Provide decent pensions and free social care for older people
• Reduce poverty massively by introducing a Citizen's income

On the verge of a historical political breakthrough

Cllr. Ricky Knight concluded, “We are very buoyant and optimistic, more so now than at any time in our relatively short history as a Party. We could well be on the verge of a historic political breakthrough, with concerns on the environment, the economy, human rights and democratic accountability converging to create a 'perfect wave', a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the electorate to wrestle back control of a governing class, which has failed spectacularly to represent us responsibly or with integrity.”

Ends

Note to editors

Our full economic plans can be found at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/economy.html

Joanna Lumley, who shamed Ministers into changing their minds over immigration rights for Gurkha veterans has asked people to cast a vote for the Green Party in the European Elections.

She said  "I urge you to cast a positive vote for a better future by voting Green in the European elections."

Ricky Knight, lead candidate for the South West and on course to become an Member of the European parliament said, “It is an honour to be endorsed by Joanna Lumley.  She has been named as the female personality the public would most like to run the country. Her campaign to get just treatment for Gurkha veterans was overwhelmingly supported by the public.”

Joanna Lumley concluded,”Greens were most likely to bring about real change.”

Ends:

The latest polls show that Green Party lead candidate Ricky Knight is on course to become the South West's first Green MEP. Over a third of people canvassed said they would consider casting a vote for the Green Party.

Cllr. Ricky Knight, who was 60 last Sunday is a former Modern Languages teacher and European Studies graduate says it will be an honour to serve the people of the South West as a Member of the European Parliament.  Ricky is committed to putting his expenses in the public domain. He says, "We must never forget that we are being trusted with tax payers money to do our jobs. That means we have a responsibility to be clear and honest when explaining ourselves and a duty not to be frivolous or wasteful with our expenses."

A YouGov poll to be published this week (1) suggests the British public trusts Green politicians far more than those of other parties.

Over 2,000 people were asked - regardless of the party they normally voted for - which party's politicians they thought were most likely to put their own financial interests before the interests of their country. Allowed to choose three parties, only 5% named the Greens.

On the mistrust scale:

• Labour appeared to be the least trusted, with 45% of respondents naming Labour politicians as likely to put financial self-interest before their country.
• The Conservatives were almost as bad, with 40% naming them.
• Next were the BNP, the LibDems and UKIP on 20%, 16% and 15% respectively.

The new poll was released in the same week that campaign group Open Democracy rated the Green Party's leader Caroline Lucas as the joint best British MEP on accountability, transparency and reform. The bottom nine places in the Open Democracy survey were occupied by four Conservatives and five UKIP MEPs - with the tenth-worst British MEP slot being held jointly by UKIP leader Nigel Farage and an MEP each from Labour, the Conservatives and the LibDems.

Voter-intention polls show Greens up, UKIP and BNP down

The Greens say that while there's much talk of a protest vote going to the racist BNP in response to the ongoing sleaze scandal, in fact the opinion polls are showing the Green Party to be a far more likely recipient of any protest vote.

• The ComRes poll of 17 May, commissioned by UKIP, put the Greens on 11% and the BNP on just 4%.
• The ComRes poll put the Greens on 13% across South West England - easily enough for Green candidate Ricky Knight to win a parliamentary seat.
• The ComRes poll showed the Greens in third place in the South East, ready to return party leader Caroline Lucas MEP and scoop up a second seat for Brighton councillor Keith Taylor.
• The next day a YouGov poll commissioned by the Green Party suggested 34% would either definitely vote Green or would consider voting Green in the Euro-elections.
• And the Guardian/ICM poll of 22 May put the Greens on 9% - just behind UKIP (10%) and way ahead of the BNP (1%).

The Guardian/ICM poll showed a Green increase of 50% compared with the actual 2004 vote (up from 6% to 9%) while UKIP was down 60% (from 16% to 10%) and the BNP vote was cut by about four-fifths (down from 5% to 1%).

The Greens point out that polls ahead of Euro-elections usually estimate them. In 1989 the Greens were polling on about 7-8% but their actual vote turned out to be 15%.

The Greens believe their million-jobs manifesto for tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time has probably struck a chord with a lot of people.

Notes to editors:

1. Poll commissioned by the Green Party and conducted by YouGov. Fieldwork 13-15 May 2009. Sample size 2,111. The exact question was: "Regardless of the party you usually vote for, which party's politicians do you think are most likely to put their own financial interests ahead of the interests of the country? [Please tick up to three.]"

2. Further information from Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, 0161 225 4863, 07973 736351.

Caroline Lucas MEP, leader of the Green Party, has been rated best British MEP on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste by campaign group Open Europe. And Britain's Green Party MEPs were ranked above the groups of all other British parties.

Ricky Knight, Lead-Euro Green party SW candidate, said: "We have seen too many British MEPs voting against transparency and reform. We urgently need politicians all all levels of Government that are committed to acting in the public interest and getting a very much better deal for taxpayers. I'm delighted that the Green Party has topped the poll on promoting transparency and reform in the EU. It shows more clearly than ever that if people want to see greater democracy, transparency and accountability in parliament, the best way of achieving that is to vote Green on 4 June."

Open Europe published a ranking of all 785 Members of the European Parliament, scoring their record on promoting transparency and reform in the European Union over the last five-year term. Open Europe's ranking was based on a range of activities, including voting records, attendance, written declarations, and whether the MEPs themselves have taken part in wasteful activities, such as the controversial second pension fund (i).

The bottom nine places in the survey were occupied by four Conservatives and five UKIP MEPs - with the tenth-worst British MEP slot being held jointly by UKIP leader Nigel Farage and an MEP each from Labour, the Conservatives and the LibDems.

Open Europe's Research Director Mats Persson commented: "No matter where their political sympathies may lie, MEPs should all be working for a more open, democratic EU, while trying to reduce the waste of taxpayers' money.  These issues should be at the top of their agenda - especially now when the public's trust in politicians is at an all-time low."

Notes:

(i) Open Europe awarded points based on a "Premier League" model, where 3 points was the highest score,followed by 1 point and 0 points. On attendance, a scale from 1 to 6 was used. MEPs who had been the subject of substantive press reports of wrongdoing were shown Open Europe's "red card" and had 10 points deducted from their score.

Open Europe's categories were as follows:

**A) Transparency, openness and democracy**

MEPs are ranked according to whether they:

1. Voted for easier public access to EU documents

2. Voted against keeping MEPs' expenses and accounts secret

3. Voted to increase transparency, including better public access to MEPs' voting records

4. Responded to Open Europe's Transparency Initiative on expenses and allowances

5. Voted in favour of imposing sanctions for MEPs guilty of financial irregularities

6. Voted in favour of providing mandatory receipts for travel expenses

7. Voted to respect the outcome of the pending legally-binding Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty

8. Voted in favour of opening Europe up to trade with developing countries

9. Achieved good attendance at the Parliament's voting sessions

**B) Fighting waste and misuse of EU funds**

MEPs are ranked according to whether they:

1. Opted out of the Parliament's controversial second pension fund

2. Voted in favour of cleaning up the second pension fund

3. Supported moves to abolish the Parliament's secondseat in Strasbourg

4. Voted against 'hypocritical' EU subsidies to tobacco farmers

5. Voted to reform the CAP and discontinue subsidies to tobacco farmers

6. Voted not to clear the European Parliament's accounts for 2006 due to 75% unaccounted expenditure on MEPs' assistants' allowances

7. Voted not to approve the Parliament's accounts for 2007

8. Voted not to approve the Commission's accounts for 2007

9. Voted to postpone clearing the European Council'saccounts for 2007

10. Voted against clearing the accounts of theEuropean Police College for 2007 while it was under investigation for fraud

To see the league table, please click here:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/mepranking.xls

(See sheet two for UK MEPs only)

For a guide to the criteria used in the ranking, please click here:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/rankingguide.pdf

(ii) The Green Party is to submit proposals to the Kelly commission regarding the issue of MPs' expenses. The Greens believe that a full-blown investigation of what has gone wrong is essential if the reforms are to work properly. See more at:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/21-05-cheating-on-expenses.html

South West Green Party launched the Green Manifesto for the European Election at a well attended event at the Chestnut Tree Cafe on Plymouth's historic Barbican on Tuesday 19th.

Lead candidate Ricky Knight announced a new poll which shows a massive 34% of voters considering voting Green. Ricky stressed that the Green candidates are exactly the sort of fresh clean faces that politics needs. Their combined experience of real life and the world of work provides voters with potential MEPs who really understand their concerns.

Ricky introduced short video messages from the two female candidates, Molly Scot Cato and Chloë Somers, who were unable to travel to Plymouth.

Ricky addressing the meeting with other Green list candidates (l-r) David Taylor, Roger Creagh-Osborne & Richard Lawson.

Richard Lawson said that the Green Party is now a natural home for those who in the past have supported Labour and Liberal Parties. The Green position encompasses the social justice and liberty agendas that the other parties are increasingly abandoning.

Roger Creagh-Osborne said that the Greens also have much to offer Conservative voters. As a party that cares about both people and the planet, it shares their concern for conserving and maintaining traditional quality of life.

David Taylor spoke against the UKIP position, which is fundamentally misunderstood by many voters. Whilst it may appear superficially attractive to many people who are disenchanted with politics, once you scratch the surface you discover a party that is deeply mired with a poor record on attendance and misuse of expenses in Brussels and that is lacking in internal democracy or accountability.

Ricky with the other candidates and a 'zero carbon' mobile advertising hording

In conclusion Ricky stressed the transparency and openness which is characteristic of Green politicians, and commended the Green manifesto for the European election. The manifesto "It's the Economy Stupid" explains how Green MEPs aim to deliver really effective change for both people and planet, through reform of the EU and strong leadership of the Climate Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December.

• The Manifesto can be downloaded in PDF format (392 kB)
• See report from Western Morning News
• See report from Plymouth Herald 

The South West Green Party launched the campaign to encourage local councils to participate back in February. It was the first action taken by the newly formed South West LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Greens, a group set up to demonstrate and support the Green Party's tireless work in combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Ryan Cleminson, manager of the South West LGBT Greens, said: "We started this campaign to get councils to fly the flag back in February when we launched the South West LGBT Greens and since then we have had a good response. I think IDAHO is important in highlighting how although in some places homophobia is treated as a serious issue, that is sadly not the case everywhere. With seven UN member states still regarding homosexuality as a criminal offence punishable by the death penalty clearly there is more work to do. I would like to thank the councils that have signed up to the campaign."

Ricky Knight, prospective Green MEP for the South West, added: "The Green Party aims to build a more sustainable and equal society where everyone is valued as an individual. The diversity within the LGBT community enriches all our lives and should be encouraged and promoted. Our Party has an admirable record of opposing discrimination and I am proud to lend my support to this campaign."

South West Greens were out and about in Bristol at street stalls throughout the city. To finish their day of action, they toasted potential electoral success with 'Green Knight', a new vegan, organic beer named after Ricky Knight, their lead candidate. The beer was launched last week in Stroud to great acclaim and is brewed by the Nailsworth micro-brewery.

They also joined Unite Against Fascism for their march from Castle Park at noon. Ricky Knight, prospective Green MEP for the South West, said: "It is important that we remember the reason the European Union was set up. By standing up against the far-right and their politics of hate, we are giving a clear message that there is no place for fascists in the Europe we belong to. When the European Union began, it was to strengthen peace and stability across countries which were suffering the terrible consequences of decades of war.

"Today, the EU is seen by many as being run by fat cats, riven by corruption, issuing top-down policies from behind closed doors. More Greens in the EU would return to the original ideals and create a transparent, fair and effective governance system for Europe. Your chance to help us do that is on June 4^th by voting Green."

Europe Day was first celebrated in 1985, 35 years after Robert Schuman's proposal on the creation of an organised Europe.
This proposal, known as the 'Schuman declaration', is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
Green Party policy aims to bring peace and security to Europe, by promoting greater understanding and friendship between its peoples, as well as working at the higher European level to combat pressing environmental challenges.

The Green Party's aims for Europe are to:

• safeguard basic rights;
• bring peace and security to Europe, by promoting greater understanding and friendship between its peoples;
• solve and prevent environmental problems, such as air pollution, which can best be resolved at the European level;
• promote sustainable, non exploitative, self reliant local and regional economies;
• reduce inequalities of wealth and disparities in quality of life between the regions of Europe, and between Europe and the rest of the world;
• support a rich diversity of cultures;
• facilitate the exchange of ideas, technology and sustainable practices;
• promote global co-operation where appropriate.

On Saturday 2nd May, Green Party members were met in Nailsworth by a Knight on horseback outside The Village Inn pub for the launch of a specially brewed organic beer - 'Green Knight', created by the Nailsworth Brewery. The beer is named after Ricky Knight, the Greens’ lead Euro candidate, and is possibly the first beer ever to be named after a European election candidate!

Speaking on the evening, Ricky said: "It was a glorious start to the Euro campaign here in Gloucestershire with the knight on horseback, an apt rendition of the Arthurian tale of ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, a suitably tricky Euro-quiz and then, to round the evening off, joining in with the many talented local musicians and singers who put themselves forward for the Open Mic.

"It’s great to have a beer named after me, but this evening was really about highlighting how we can get a Green elected to the European Parliament for the first time in the South West. These elections are run on a Proportional Representation system, which means that tactical voting need not be the preferred response to our ludicrous ‘first-past-the-post’ system. The economy is in a mess and the environment balanced on precarious tipping points; the best possible message to send to those that have failed so spectacularly to honour the trust we have placed in them, is to vote Green on June 4th."

Ricky Knight, a Green councillor in Barnstaple who gave up his job as a modern languages teacher to campaign full time for the European elections, made a powerful speech at the beginning of the evening and even took a turn at the mic, to sing passionately a ‘Seize the Day’ anti-war song, without accompaniment.

The 'Green Knight' beer has been described as a light, hoppy organic beer with hints of grapefruit and elderflower coming in at 4.4% abv. and is vegetarian and vegan. It is hoped that more of the beer will be available in selected venues across the South West.

Read Stroud Green councillor Philip Booth's blogpost on the event.

•  High-resolution images for the media 

Euro candidate Ricky Knight welcomed 350 daytrippers on arrival at Bath Spa on a special St George's Day train trip from the north organised by the Green Party.

Up to 350 daytrippers were on board the Green Express on a visit to Bath on Thursday 23 April.The heritage train comprising 10 heritage coaches from the 1950s and 60s and bedecked with Vote Green Party posters set off from Leeds and called at Dewsbury, Mirfield, Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale and Manchester.

Green Party Euro candidate Ricky Knight was on the platform to welcome the daytrippers to the city and to raise the importance of Green travel within Britain.

"The Green Party campaigns for cheaper and improved public transport - what better way of demonstrating the case for improved public transport than the Green Express," said Sue Bradley of Bath Green Party.

Organiser of the train, Clive Lord, who at 74 is probably the oldest charter train promoter in the country, said: "The train has been given a break of almost four hours in Bath arriving at 12.47 and leaving at 4.21pm."

"We have found a great way to fill the heritage train has been serving smaller local stations; this provides a direct train from the convenience of residents' local stations."

"The train is also a practical example of 'Green Tourism' taking people away for the day and leaving the car at home. On the train, paper, cans and bottles are collected for recycling," added Clive.The Green Party ran its first special train in 1989 to campaign again the closure of the famous Settle & Carlisle railway line.

This line was subsequently reprieved and is now ironically so full of freight traffic and passenger trains, there is little room left to run a special charter trains on the route, such has been the growth of rail traffic in recent years, highlighting the folly of cutting rail infrastructure. This year is the 20th anniversary of the line being saved from closure.