High Speed Rail Link Welcomed

Responding to the Government's announcement today on high speed rail, West Midlands Green Party said they welcome the plans.

Talking about the scheme, Louis Stephen, the Green Party’s General Election candidate in Worcester, said “I am delighted that this project is going ahead.

We have been lobbying for some time to get real investment into the rail network, as it will help reduce carbon emissions at the same time as creating thousands of jobs. I want to see as many of those jobs as possible created here the West Midlands, the cradle of engineering.”

However, despite favouring the high speed rail plans the Green Party are already calling for much further action to be taken.

“To offer real choice and really reduce our dependence on air travel the high speed link must not stop at Birmingham, but continue right on up into Scotland.” said Mr Stephen.

The Green Party wants massive investment in local transport, and for the West Midlands to have a world class system linking the region’s towns and cities to the high speed rail network.”

“It currently takes around an hour and a half to travel from Worcester to Birmingham, which seems daft if the journey on to London will then only take 45 minutes. So this should only be the start.

Local Disability Campaigner is Green candidate for Stratford on Avon.

 
“I’ll fight for a fairer future” – Karen Varga

The Green Party has announced that local disability and education campaigner Karen Varga will be their parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Stratford on Avon in this year’s General Election.

Karen Varga, Branch Officer in Stratford on Avon for the National Autistic Society, says “Only Green policies can deliver a fair and healthy future for the people in Stratford, by putting people, families and communities first.”

Karen Varga has a long history of fighting for a fairer society. Born in Streatham, and a member of Transition Stratford and Friends of the Earth, Karen went on to become the first ever female telephone exchange installation apprentice for Ericsson in the UK. After eighteen years as a telecommunications engineer Karen was forced to leave her chosen profession when the elder of her two daughters was diagnosed with autism.

Karen has lived in Stratford since 2000 and both of her daughters are educated in the district. Well aware of the challenges facing youngsters today, Karen is concerned for many of the area’s youth. She told us, “The recession is causing very high levels of youth unemployment and others are mired in student debt. We need to defend young people against the savage cuts to education, abolish student tuition fees and encourage businesses to offer thousands more apprenticeships.”

With local authorities increasingly facing tough budget decisions Karen is aware of the massive difficulties being faced in the social sector. “If elected I would also fight for an increase in central funding to go towards maintaining essential local frontline services. Many of the organisations which support those who need help the most in society are being starved of cash.”

Karen also knows how important a healthy NHS is. She told us “The Green Party believe it's wrong that hospitals and health centres are treated like businesses, rather than vital public services. We want to see an end to money being wasted on botched PFI and privatisation schemes. We will oppose cuts and closures in the NHS, and protect the jobs of all public sector workers.”

Over 1.2 million people voted for the Greens in the European elections in June 2009. At the same time, in local elections the Green Party gained 11% of the vote in the county. The Green Party has two MEPs and 125 councillors. It is the fourth largest party in the country and is on course to win three MPs in the next General Election.

                                Felicity Norman is - are you?

Members throughout the West Midlands are being invited to take part in a special short film, which the makers hope will show how diverse the region is.

Tom Harris, the WGMP's Media Officer, is calling on all members with a digital camera or camcorder to take part. "To help show how WMGP stretches all the way from the Peak District to the Wye Valley and from the welsh borders to the Cotswolds, we are making a very special little film, where WMGP members are the stars!”

Members are being invited to send in photos and videos of themselves holding a placard stating “I AM WMGP”, where possible with a local landmark in the background. The photos and videos will go to make a 2 minute film. It is hoped the final video will help build awareness of the local groups throughout the region and encourage membership.

Click here to watch a short explanatory video and to download the “I AM WMGP” posters.

Saturday 23rd January saw the West Midlands Green Party AGM take place in Birmingham. The meeting was very well attended with many new facesmaking their first ever appearance.

The election of Executive Officers saw overwhelming supportfor those staying on in their posts and those newly elected. Motions of specialthanks went to Roy Sandison, for doing such a great job as RegionalCoordinator, and Peter Harvey, who stepped down as Treasurer after 30 years in the role.

The Executive is now made up of:

James Burn - Co-ordinator

Will Duckworth - Treasurer

Damon Hoppe - Secretary

Karl Macnaughton – Election Officer

Ben Bradley - Local Party Support Officer

Tom Harris - Fund Raiser and Media Officer

Lee Cadwallader – Website

Alison Walters – Newsletter

After the ‘business’ meeting, Tom Harris gave an upbeatpresentation about various fund raising and media initiatives, including anintroduction to plans for WMGP to hire its first employed Officer.

Following the growth in the number of members and successes at various elections it was concluded that 2010 promises to be a very exciting year for everyone in WMGP.

Tom Harris represented the Green Party on the BBC 1 Politics Show in the West Midlands argued against extending the runway and using £25m of tax payers' money to sweeten the deal. The plan is too lengthen the runway by 400 metres that will mean diverting the busy A45. This plan was hatched several years ago in a very different world.

Tom in debate with a Mrs Lynda Waltho Labour MP for Stourbridge- explained patiently why tax payers money should not be used to bail out a privately run airport for a project so damaging to the environment and makes so little financial sense.

£25 million of hard earned tax payers money should be more wisely be spent on helping West Midlands firms and workers survive the recession explained Tom much to the dismay of the pro airport expansion lobby including Mrs Waltho MP who saw no problem with the tax payer bailing them out!

See Broadcast here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p4prv/The_Politics_Show_West_Midlands_22_11_2009/ <http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p4prv/The_Politics_Show_West_Midlands_22_11_2009/>

In a strongly worded letter to the Communication Workers Union - Lucas, accused the Government of "ill-serving" workers and the UK public alike and criticised the Government for its "shameful privatisation of public services" which has led to "increased marginalisation and inequalities in terms of public access to services".
In the letter to CWU Secretary Bill Hayes, Caroline Lucas says: "In our view, Royal Mail workers and management have been on a collision course since the private sector has been forced on the service. By removing profitable parts of the business for the benefit of speculators and investors, the Government has created an environment in which the interests of the population of the UK as a whole have been ill-served, none more so than your members. It is shameful that a Labour Government should have played such a role in the privatisation of public services, and in a way which has increased marginalisation and inequalities in terms of access to services."
"It is especially concerning that this Labour Government is not only content with overseeing the dismantling of this vital service, but now appears to be colluding with Royal Mail management to undermine the rights of the Union and its representatives, and condoning the side-lining of the CWU in working towards the completion of the agreement from the last period of industrial action."
The Green Party leader offered the CWU the Green's full support in the strikes and protests, stating that "...we hope that any action is swift and positive in its results. As we did two years ago, we will lobby at every level to support the CWU cause."

West Midlands Convenor Roy Sandison (pictured below handling a letter of support from Caroline Lucas MEP and a donation to Rugby CWU Rep Kev Bird from Rugby Green Party) says "We have all seen the damage that privatisation has done to our once highly regarded public services and it is important they we all support the postal workers in their fight to keep the Post Office public or we can say good bye to our local post offices and daily safe delivery of our personal mail"

Green Party members across towns and cities in theWest Midlands joined with others to send a ‘wake up' call to Gordon Brown andother world leaders through 'flashmobs' that are an inventive way for ordinarypeople across the globe to make voices heard.

Celebrities Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox,Michael Stipe, Stephen Fry, Harry Belafonte, Emiliana Torrini, Lila Downs,Groove Armada, Zap Mama and more have pledged support and are askingfans to join the global action

The global outcry comes amid expertwarnings that a UN climate pact in Copenhagen in December risks failure unlessworld leaders revive bogged-down negotiations at a UN summit in New York onSeptember 22.

Over 1,000 events organised in morethan 100 countries will sound the alarm with people gathering in public places,ringing cell phone alarms and making actual ‘wake-up' phone calls topoliticians. Music artists are calling on fans to blast their favourite tunesand street bands from Taiwan to Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up to back therallying cry to ‘make some noise'.

At the US premiere of climate filmAge of Stupid, to be shown in 400+ theatres simultaneously, audiences will viewfootage of the day's events and take part in flooding their government withcalls to action.

"The idea of a global climate wake-upcall got going just a few weeks ago, and it's snowballing into a massivemobilisation of millions who want leaders to do more to stop runaway climatechange," said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of campaign network Avaaz.orgwhich has provided an online hub for its 3.6 million members worldwide to findlocal events to attend or organise their own.

Roy Sandison from Rugby Green Partywho joined the protest in his town said "It shows how the internet can bring peopletogether across the globe -  in aninventive and quick way - that sparked off a fair bit of interest from shoppersin Rugby Town centre during the ‘flashmob'

 "It shows the huge level of public concernthat climate talks move far and fast enough to deliver a deal that will avertclimate catastrophe and unleash a new green economy."

The climate wake-up events are based onthe idea of "flashmobs" -- fun, peaceful demonstrations in which participantsassemble suddenly in a public place, blending in with the crowd, perform anunusual action simultaneously for a few minutes, and then quickly disperse.They will be mostly self-organising, so should be easy foreveryone involved.

As the last serving soldier in the 1st World War and at one time the UK's older man is laid to rest the West Midlands Green Party send its condolences to his family and friends - Politicians should heed the words of someone like Harry Patch before asking young men and women to go to war.

 'I am the only one that got through

The others died where ever they fellIt was an ambush

They came up from all sides

Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves

I've seen devils coming up from the groundI've seen hell upon this earth

The next will be chemical but they will never learn'

http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1404/1/

TheVestas plant is currently threatened with closure, and Lucas has called onthe government to step in with financial aid to keep it open.

TheWest Midlands Green Party echoes the calls by Green Party leader Caroline Lucaswhen says: "I give my full support to the campaign to stop the closure ofthe Vestas wind turbine manufacturing plant. The decision to close the facilityrepresents a spectacular failure by Government ministers to adequately promotegreen industries - and protect the future of manufacturing in thiscountry. This isn't just a huge blow for the 600 skilled British workerswho are set to lose their jobs - it destroys any hope the UK may have had forestablishing itself in the eyes of the world as being at the forefront oftechnological efforts to create a greener and more sustainable future."

"Ata time when the number of people out of work is increasing, it is unforgivablethat the Government has singularly failed to offer coherent policy on thefuture of the renewable energy industry. This is an industry which couldprovide hundreds of thousands of good quality, green collar jobs for skilledworkers, taking full advantage of the UK's proud manufacturing heritage, whilesimultaneously addressing the ever-present threat of climate change."

"Weshould be seizing the opportunity to create a renewable energy revolutionthrough a favourable policy environment and massive investment in the newtechnologies that can see us through a transition towards a moreenvironmentally and economically stable economy."

Dr Lucas concluded: "The Government can make a genuine start along this roadby pledging financial aid to help keep the Isle of Wight's Vestas plant openfor business - and prove that its rhetoric on renewable energy is more thanjust hot

The West Midlands Green party urges people to send messages of support to the workers inoccupation and write to their MP asking for them to put pressure on theGovernment to intervene on the side of the workers and sustainable industriesin this country - such as the Vestas plant in the Isle of Wight.

Roy Sandison- Joint Convenor of the West Midlands Greens Party says "This is absolutely adispute that needs to be won - not only for the sake of workers of Vesta butalso those green industries that to be built in this country for the futureneeds of our country and help to put UK workers back into employment."

"Ifthe Government let it closes it destroys any hope the UK may have had forcatching up with Denmark, the USA, China or Germany on green technologies."

"Incredibly, this Labour government has just spent billions bailing outthe crooked banks, and £2.3 billion in loan-guarantees to support the UK carmanufacturing industry, as well as offering millions in subsidies to helpforeign car companies through the car scrappage scheme; the least they could dois step in to save the infrastructure we are really going to need to ensure ourclimate security."

"Staff at Vestas, local residents along with unions and environmentalistgroups including the Green Party are demanding the government nationalise thefactories and continue production under new management."

"Workers donot need to put on the dole when we clearly all need a massive expansion ofgreen sustainable industries for ours and our children's future"

More information on the occupation and where to make donations can be found at: http://savevestas.wordpress.com

Green votes across the UK went up by 44%, electing two Green MEPs. The Party was frustratingly close to gaining seats in so many regions, not least the North West where the Greens were just 5000 votes behind Nick Griffin. In the UK, the Greens made the most progress of the biggest six parties at the European elections in terms of increase in vote share and across Europe the Green group was the only group to increase its number of seats despite there being fewer seats in Parliament this time.

Debate about most policies and issues were largely wiped off the agenda by stories of sleaze in Westminster, which dominated the headlines and discouraged many from voting at all.

But society's problems won't go away any time soon with the policies of the Labour, Conservatives and Lib Dems. We will continue to campaign for green economic policies to provide jobs, reduce carbon emissions and create energy security, as well as for political reform, discussion of which has been one good thing to come out of the Westminster revelations.

Felicity Norman

Green Party

At the meeting, chaired by Cllr Salma Yaqoob, who is endorsing Felicity for a place in the European Parliament on June 4th, Felicity outlined the views of the Green group and what she wishes to do if elected to the European Parliament.

Felicity said:

Our immediate demands are:

* immediate stop to aerial bombings by the Pakistani military, as well as to attacks by US drones (because they only put oil on the fire of anti-US+ anti-Central government sentiments)
* cancelation of the special agreements with certain territories (Swat Valley, Waziristan)
* registration of internally displaced refugees and provision of basic assistance
* stop support for military aid by member states to Pakistan and instead
* strong increase of development aid with a focus on education, health care and the establishment of a functioning justice and taxation system.

Green colleagues in the EP have outlined what they hope to do, once the Green group has been re-established in the new Parliament:

a) They will ask in the Conference of Presidents for a debate with Council and Commission on Pakistan in the plenary.
b) Invite the Chief Justice to the Parliament
c) Put pressure on Council and Commission to increase financial contributions to Pakistan through the Stability Instrument as well as through the DCI (Development Cooperation) Instrument
d) Put pressure on Commission and Council to reverse the policies which the US and the EU have been following so far. (Obama has already announced that he will shift focus, which is also being influenced by the actual debate in congress about whether the US aid has not also served to increase Pakistan's nuclear arsenal).

Immediate emergency aid is needed through the UN and other agencies.

Ultimately, I believe that the only way forward is, as proposed by the South Asia scholars group and others, through economic and development aid, and in involving the pro-democracy groups, including the lawyers, in developing policy for Pakistan's long term future.

(1) Sunday Telegraph opinion poll, 31 May 2009, suggests the Green Party could win 8 seats.  A Politics Professor at Staffordshire University, speaking on the Politics Show, 31 May, confirmed that the final seat could go to the Green Party in the West Midlands.

The racist and homophobic BNP could gain a seat in the West Midlands region, which would lead to the election.  The Green Party stands in their way.  Currently polling at around 11%, the Green Party is predicted to gain the sixth and final seat in the West Midlands region (1).

Voters were happy to hear of the good work of, for example, the Green Party's Jean Lambert MEP who won an award in 2005 as the top MEP on justice and human rights.

Both in the West Midlands and in the North West, the Green Party has added "Say No to Racism" on the ballot paper so that voters have the option to send a strong message to say no to racism and yes to human rights.

TACTICAL VOTING

With the Green Party predicted to gain the sixth and final seat in the West Midlands (according to this weekend's polls), it means that the Green Party is the key block preventing the BNP gaining a seat here.  Click here to see a video from the North West region on how the voting works at the European election and why voting Green can stop the BNP there.

CELEBRITY SUPPORT

Carole Vincent from Big Brother, promoting the anti-racist message at Love Music Hate Racism, dropped by the Green Party stall to chat with candidates and add her support to the Green Party's work.  Carole is voting Green this year and encouraged passers by to join her in backing the Party at the European elections.

(1) Sunday Telegraph opinion poll, 31 May 2009, suggests the Green Party could win 8 seats.  A Politics Professor at Staffordshire University, speaking on the Politics Show, 31 May, confirmed that the final seat could go to the Green Party in the West Midlands.

Below: Chris Williams (MEP Candidate), Andy Murray and Ramu Rajendran (County Council election candidate for Burton Tower division, Burton-on-Trent) at the Green Party stall at Love Music Hate Racism.

In the West Midlands region, Cllr Salma Yaqoob, Prominent Birmingham Councillor and Leader of Respect Party has endorsed Green Party Lead Candidate, Felicity Norman. Their combined support was 7.6%, just more than the 7.5% gained by the BNP. As little as 10% of the vote may be enough to win a seat in the West Midlands so this is a crucial endorsement and a sign that the progressive side of British politics has awakened in response to the unprecedented threat from the far right.

It seems likely that the 4th placed party in the West Midlands will take the final Euro seat. On a day where support is extremely divided, a 5th placed party could also take a seat. Respect should be applauded for their progressive approach in offering tactical support in order to defeat the far right.

It has to be acknowledged that the sleazy record of UKIP has been relegated to a minor story by the Westminster scandals. They have been thrown a lifeline by the expenses revelations, and 4th to 6th place may be very close. If the BNP finish in only 6th place, then categorically, the BNP will not win a seat.

Tactical backing for the Greens has been stronger still in the North West region where Respect leaflets have been delivered alongside Green Party leaflets where Peter Cranie is in pole position to beat Nick Griffin to gain the final seat.

What does this do in the race for the final seat in the BNP's second target region of the West Midlands? The expenses scandal is expected to weaken all the Westminster parties, leaving the Greens, UKIP and the BNP to make gains. So how should voters on the left or centre left vote to minimise the prospect of the BNP gaining seats and maximising left of centre seats in Europe?

2004 regional results Greens + Respect    BNP
North West                   6.8%                     6.4%
West Midlands              7.6%                     7.5%

Co-operation might also pay dividends at a time when the centre right and far right are on the rise in Britain. Again looking back at 2004, despite relatively similar levels of support, just look at how successful parties on the right were at gaining seats.

                             Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, Respect                  Conservatives, UKIP, BNP
% Vote                                   46.5%                                                              47.7%
Seats Won                               33                                                                    39

A detailed look at the regions shows why the right disproportionately benefited in the 2004 European Elections. Radical politics to the left of Labour, as put forward by the Greens and Respect in response to the Iraq war, meant competing messages fighting for limited coverage in 2004. The Liberal Democrats benefited from a boost as anti-war Labour voters switched to what they saw as the most effective anti-war vote, but the Lib Dems only gained 2 seats, in the North West and North East regions, and then only with their two biggest vote increase of 4.2% and 4.3%.

Looking closely at the Liberal Democrat vote in every other region, you can see the "Iraq War effect" - an increase in vote share in the range of 0 to 4% at the 2004 - but without any additional seat won in the West Midlands. With the number of seats in each region now reduced, and with the Lib Dems polling nationally at a much lower level than in 2004, it looks very difficult for them to increase their vote share. With their own reputation also damaged by sleaze, matching the results gained last time would be a huge achievement.

While the Lib Dems will definitely win a single seat in almost every region with the first 8 to 12% slice of their vote, the remainder will go to waste. It will fall short of delivering a second seat in each region, and in doing so will leave the door open for UKIP or the BNP to take the final seat. The Liberals will certainly retain one seat in the region, but it has now become urgent for Lib Dem voters to switch to the Greens in order to keep the BNP out.

For the Liberal Democrats to win a second seat in the West Midlands they will need an increase of around 6%, a far bigger swing than they gained in 2004, and a swing on top of the increase they got from the Iraq war. On the other hand, just a 3% swing to the Greens on top of the growing anti-racist coalition of the Greens, backed by Salma Yaqoob's support, will likely be enough to keep the BNP in 6th place, and out of contention.

Progressive voters should do the maths and make their own decision. We've got nothing to hide from a full and frank debate. Given that 3 in 10 Liberal Democrats view the Greens as their second choice party, now might be a good time to exercise that option. We should look to elect a Lib Dem and Green MEP in the West Midlands, rather than just one Lib Dem, no Green and the final seat gained by the BNP.

The Maths: Lib Dem votes in 2004: 197,000 votes
Votes needed to gain a seat in 2004: 130,000 votes
Wasted Lib Dem votes: 67,000
Combined Green-Respect votes in 2004: 109,000 votes

Over 2000 leaflets were snapped up over two days.  Chris was keen that people were aware of, on one hand the homophobic threat of the BNP and on the other hand, progressive Green Party politicians who care passionately about justice and equality. 

"We are proud of the record of our Green MEPs on LGBT issues, proud to have so many LGBT candidates standing and because we think that the opinions of the LGBT communities are incredibly important in this election we are also proud to launch our own specific LGBT election manifesto.

It is vital that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people have MEPs representing our rights in Europe. Jean Lambert, our London MEP, and Caroline Lucas our South Eastern MEP have worked hard in Europe for LGBT rights to be understood as human rights.

The European Elections are important, because so much of UK human rights policy tends to follow European directives on issues like the age of consent and anti-discrimination laws in employment.

It is also important that the more progressive nature of Western European attitudes to LGBT people spreads into Eastern Europe. Gay Prides in Europe have been prevented or attacked in the past but this is slowly beginning to change.

The far right is challenging the progress that has been made and we need strong voices to protect LGBT members across the whole of the EU.

The EU is in a strong position to give us a strong voice to oppose homophobic persecution and judicial murder across the world.

Green Party actions are not just paper policies. Darren Johnson led the way for civil partnerships by being instrumental in introducing the London register which predated the Civil Partnership Bill and showed that there was a demand and that it could be done.

Jean Lambert Green MEP for the London region is a member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights and works to ensure that LGBT people are treated fairly across Europe. She has spoken out against the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum seekers, to their almost certain death, which shamed the Labour government into allowing them to stay in the UK. She continues to oppose homophobic oppression in Europe and throughout the world."

The LGBT Greens European Election Manifesto

1. The Greens will continue to campaign for:

--full LGBT equality, including full partnership, insurance, pensions, employment, and housing rights. This includes campaigning to rid ALL EU member states of homophobic and transphobic discrimination in access to goods and services, such as insurance and mortgages.

--all EU member states to comply with the EU directive outlawing discrimination against lesbians gay men and bisexuals in the workplace.

--equivalent and specific protection in society and in the workplace for trans citizens.

2. Greens will press for policing which reflects the diversity of the LGBT communities in the EU particularly in the new Eastern states, ensuring that homophobic behaviour by police officers is considered an explicit offence which can be remedied with disciplinary action. Also working with the police in deepening their relationship with the LGBT community, including LGBT organisations: improving the rapport between police forces and the LGBT community; addressing the continued under-reporting of hate crimes, and working with authorities to bring hate crime culprits to justice.

3. Greens will work to legalise same-sex marriages and registered partnerships across the EU, particularly in asylum legislation.

4. Greens will campaign to

--extend the EU definition of "family" to include LGBT partnerships

--campaign for lgbt equal access to parenting and fertility treatment.

5. Greens will continue to lobby Police on non-prosecution of consenting, victimless gay offences, such as cruising. Police resources should be concentrated on violent, corporate and hate crimes and active, sustainable measures to create safer communities.

6. Greens will support a pan European HIV Action Plan:

--to improve safer sex education.

Greens will also campaign to

--cut transmission rates by remedying the financial hole in HIV services and large inadequacies in the provision and scope of HIV services

--upgrade the standard of treatment and after-care for people who have transmitted HIV. This will include pressing the UK government to resolve the under-funding and under-staffing of sexually-transmitted infection (STI) clinics.

7. Greens through their MEPs will lobby the European Commission to-

require all companies doing business with the European Union, or governments and local authorities within it, to be required to have equal opportunities policies that prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and HIV-positive people; thereby enabling local authorities to take a proactive role in encouraging businesses to end homo, bi and transphobic discrimination.

8. Greens propose to celebrate queer culture and history.

Plans to replace Woodhouse School with a privately-run academy has been slammed as Greens point out that academies will have knock-on effects for other local schools and no child would remain unaffected.
Staffordshire County Council wishes to replace Woodhouse with an academy and closing the sixth form centres at all other Tamworth schools.

The Greens have looked at what has happened elsewhere in the country and cite a York University study, which shows that academies can ‘cream' the best students and exclude more challenging pupils, leaving other local schools with children with lower educational aspirations.

A campaign group ‘Hands off Tamworth Schools' (HOTS) was set up last year to campaign against the closures. The group claims that local people are being pushed out of the decision making process. The group have now decided to put up candidates in the County Council elections and are endorsed by the Green Party in those divisions where there is no Green candidate.

Campaigners are also pointing out that the structure of academies means that they will be taken out of the hands of local authorities, reducing accountability and both parents' and teachers' involvement with the running of the schools.

Felicity Norman, Green Party MEP Candidate for Staffordshire said: "I fully support the teachers' action today against academy schools. Academies have shown to be a complete red herring in improving achievement in education and won't do any favours for teachers' career development. GCSE results actually get worse in some instances when academies are opened and where results improve, research shows it is because they are ‘creaming' some of the best pupils in the area and excluding more of the challenging pupils

I am aware disruption has been caused a result of the strike but this action is necessary to safeguard quality education in Tamworth".

Mark was also joined by Green Party activists for a protest outside the HMRC offices in Leamington Spa earlier in the day to protest against off shore tax havens. Protestors called for the HMRC to stop renting offices from a tax-dodging company based in Jersey.

In a recent Youtube video, Mark said: "Why should you vote for the Green Party? We're in a financial crisis. Why would you choose the people who made the problem to try to solve it?

"Secondly, because climate change is the most important issue and they are the only party who have campaigned from the start and hopefully to the finish on this problem.

"They are the only people who have consistently called for sensible measures ranging from work-life balance to taming the power of corporations and making sure that democratic voices count. So please vote Green!"

Felicity Norman with Comedian Mark Thomas at the Warwick Arts Centre

County Council Candidate Jess Pinson at a tongue-in-cheek protest with Mark Thomas (right) outside the HMRC in Leamington Spa

On a visit to Wind & Sun Ltd near Leominster, Herefordshire, Felicity Norman and the Green Party called for a Green New Deal to tackle the credit crunch, climate change and energy security. She proposes a £44 billion investment programme in renewable energy, home insulation, public transport and local food. "Our programme would create 1 million jobs in the UK of which over 90,000 would be in the West Midlands region, bringing huge social and environmental benefits," said Felicity, "Free insulation to every home in the country would help reduce carbon emissions and energy bills."

New jobs created would give a tax boost to the exchequer and help fund the programme. The Greens are also calling for revenue raising via a windfall tax on non-renewable energy companies, cancellation of spending on Trident nuclear missiles and cancellation of the Government's proposed ID cards.

Business is booming... at Wind & Sun Ltd. Proprietor Steve Wade started as a one-man business and was among the first in his field 25 years ago. He now employs 11 staff, four of whom were taken on in the last year. The company installs solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines to generate electricity for domestic and commercial customers. It is also an equipment distributor and runs training courses.

Felicity Norman who has been visiting eco-friendly businesses around the West Midlands region said: "Our radical programme includes tough measures to re-regulate the financial system and to clamp down on tax avoidance, evasion and tax havens. The Greens are presenting a truly comprehensive programme to tackle the problems in Britain and across Europe."

Green support in polls jumps from to 11%

A voter-intention poll commissioned by UKIP and publised in the Express on Sunday newspaper put the Greens on 11% - compare this with 7-8% in 1989 opinion polls, when the actual Green vote turned out to be 15%.

Today, a YouGov poll commissioned by the Green Party has shown that 34% of people have considered voting Green - the highest ever proportion. Interestingly, it is Liberal Democrat voters most likely to switch to the Greens, though a good proportion of Labour and Conservative voters are also considering the move.

Above: Felicity speaking at the launch

Steve Wade giving Felicity a tour of the site