Former Mayor of Stafford joins the Green Party

20 October 2008

The former Mayor of Stafford, Mike Shone, has decided to join the Green Party following his disillusionment with the 'New' Labour party, the direction that it is taking and its current policies.

Mike Shone was a member of the Labour Party for over 35 years before his shock resignation last September. Mike had served on Stafford Borough Council for 24 years, becoming Deputy Council Leader and finally Mayor of Stafford. Mike has today issued a statement outlining why he believes the Green Party is the best way forward.

Stafford and Stone Green Party Spokesperson John Gale said "We are pleased that such a prominent and respected local political figure has joined the Green Party. Mike's long standing experience in local politics along with the Green Party's fresh ideas on social justice and the environment make for a winning combination."

The Green Party is increasingly gaining in support because their sensible radical policies are increasingly being seen as realistic answers to the global economic and global environmental problems. Stafford and Stone Green Party has been growing rapidly since it's formation only late last year with many new and active members and gaining 8% of the vote in the recent Common Ward By-Election.

Stafford and Stone Green Party are currently campaigning for the adoption of a sensible waste management and recycling programme and against the proposed ‘incinerator' for Staffordshire.

Statement from Mike Shone, a former Mayor of Stafford.
Why I have joined the Green Party.

The recent months of financial crisis have vividly revealed that much of the approach taken by the Thatcher, Blair and Brown governments have been woefully misguided. Thatcher was responsible for large scale unemployment for millions and long working hours for the majority. Under Brown's Chancellorship and Premiership, whilst unemployment fell considerably, long working hours have become entrenched.

And both Conservative and Labour have encouraged people to embrace unnecessary and stressful levels of personal debt.

Why have they promoted these debilitating long working hours and personal debt ?

Thirty or forty years ago it looked as if our economy had grown sufficiently to give people more leisure. It looked as if we were on the verge of being able to work shorter hours and live better-balanced lives. There would be more time for our families, friends and community. We would be able to develop further skills and enjoy more pastimes.

The main political parties, however, decided to put the interests of the banks and big business first. People have been encouraged to borrow and get into significant debt. This provided the banks with huge profits and mind boggling bonuses for bankers. We've been encouraged to endlessly buy things we don't need as well as the things we do need. We've been used in this way to increase profits for business and enrich their owners.

But has this enriched us ?

This fixation with stimulating overconsumption has inflicted enormous stress on many individuals and families. It has done considerable harm to our society, our economy and our environment.

Some Labour and Tory politicians may talk about the importance of work/life balance, "mending a broken society" and "protecting the environment". But they are fundamentally unable to provide the leadership needed to achieve these things, for to create the conditions that will allow us better balanced lives, a healthier society and a sustainable environment would require them to give up their ingrained habits of thought, and lack of thought, which have landed us where we are.

We need to embrace a form of politics that doesn't impose such adverse levels of stress on individuals, society and the environment. We need a form of politics that is sufficiently aware to give due respect and support to individuals, society and the environment: a form of politics which maximises the chances for individuals to create balanced lives for themselves. We need a form of politics which encourages harmony between people in society, improving community life and reducing the massive differences between the rich and the rest. We need a form of politics which ensures compatibility between the physical environment and how we behave as humans.

Over the past year, following my resignation from the Labour Party, I have examined the alternatives, and concluded that the Green Party sets the best example for the way forward. I am now a member.

I look forward to working with the Green Party's growing membership. It gives us the best chance to progress away from the politics which delivers "debt and stress" and towards one that is conducive to "well-being": well-being not just for the environment but more particularly for our society, ourselves and the people who are important to us.

Mike Shone, October 2008