iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Hot on the Blog
HRH The Prince of WalesDavid MorrisseyWill YoungInna Shevchenko
Jenny Jones AM

Green Party London Assembly Member

GET UPDATES FROM Jenny Jones AM
 

A Green Mayor Could Make a Huge Difference to the UK

Posted: 03/05/2012 09:53

There has been a strong green voice at City Hall since 2000. That presence has helped to deliver policies as diverse as the London low emission zone to deal with air pollution, a unit to promote the London Living Wage and the civil partnership register which was adopted by national government.

When Ken Livingstone was mayor between 2004 and 2008, he needed the votes of the Green Party Assembly Members, myself and Darren Johnson, to pass his budget and we used that leverage to dramatically improve safety on London's roads and to initiate the energy conservation projects which have saved a lot of Londoners' money.

We also successfully opposed Ken's plans to build a six lane, highly polluting road across the Thames in East London by working with the local community to stop the plans at public inquiry. As a result of having Green Assembly Members elected, a whole range of issues from cycling to social equality and civil liberties have been pushed on to the agenda at City Hall.

A Green Mayor, along with Greens elected on the London wide list vote (orange ballot paper) could make a huge difference to London and the UK. We will cut fares, invest in public transport and reduce traffic. We will improve green spaces and reduce pollution. We will make housing affordable and hold down rents. We will reduce the gap between rich and poor. We will rebuild trust in policing and get police officers out from behind their desks by reversing the cuts to civilian staff.

It has been really encouraging that in this election those organisations and NGOs who have taken a detailed look at the policies of the main parties, have said that the Green Party have the best ideas. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace said we had the best ideas on the environment, with Ken second and Boris last. The London Cycling Campaign gave us the highest score and Votebike are advocating a Jen then Ken vote for Mayor and Green for the London wide list vote. The Campaign for Clean air rated us top on policies to deal with air pollution and the charity 4children said we had the most family friendly policies. We feel we have the best policies to taken London forward and if you agree, then together we can make the difference.

 

Follow Jenny Jones AM on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GreenJennyJones

FOLLOW UK POLITICS
There has been a strong green voice at City Hall since 2000. That presence has helped to deliver policies as diverse as the London low emission zone to deal with air pollution, a unit to promote the L...
There has been a strong green voice at City Hall since 2000. That presence has helped to deliver policies as diverse as the London low emission zone to deal with air pollution, a unit to promote the L...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Jenny Jones AM

Jenny Jones AM: Student Protests: The Problem is No One is Listening

We need to ask ourselves why successive governments have been willing to ignore public opinion on tuition fees-and seemingly go unpunished at the ballot box for going back on their word.

 
 
  • Comments
  • 10
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
oobuc5
12 Fans
09:24 on 04/05/2012
GREEN = the government use green issues to make money via taxing everything to the max ,the green party want to do the same but they say its to save the planet ,meanwhile in the middle of this money making exorcise are the rest of us ,the government think we are all green for falling for it and the green party think they will change the planet by taxing us even more than the government

The result as far as im concerned is i dont vote for corrupt politicians
And i could not vote for ageing hippies who just could not run the real world !
Permalink  |
photo
TruthSeeker666
65 Fans
18:50 on 03/05/2012
Yes a Green Mayor could make a real change, but would it be a change for the better ???.. I dont think so, the only candidate to make a definate change for the better would be Carlos, the BNP candidate, but as always, even though the BNP candidate is higher in the polls than other candidtes the media blank them and pretend that a vote for the BNP is a wasted vote when they are the fastest growing party in the UK.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
sabelmouse
i love to tumble , ask me why .
850 Fans
 
18:17 on 03/05/2012
i would if i could, i'm in ireland, but i bet most people will be to scared to move away from the status quo.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
icini
87 Fans
17:42 on 03/05/2012
Sorry, don't trust greens. Would like to but their desire to tax us all back to the dark ages to "save the planet" causes huge damage to less well off people. It will also achieve nothing. Anything we do will be a drop in the ocean. Why do all these people think UK must take the lead however much suffering it causes us ? No one overseas will take the slightest notice. The science is also looking increasingly fragile.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ben Wilson
Might as well laugh while you still can.
318 Fans
 
15:53 on 03/05/2012
I lived in London you'd get my vote. I have forever gave up on the main 3. The expenses scandal and lack of punishment as well as token imprisonments was the final straw for me. I don't forgive and I wont forget. Besides, you Greens bring some optimism to the table and are the closest thing to old Labour out there.
Permalink  |
dms0001
26 Fans
15:48 on 03/05/2012
Funding! How are they going to fund these fantastic promises. Now, hazard a guess, Mayors council tax will increase dramatically, as in Ayatollah Livingstone tenure, 25/30%PA. It's the only way they know to get money, force it from honest hard working, tax paying families, because they have no choice, than to pay or be forced to pay, by violence if need be. "HOLDING DOWN RENTS" For those of you, not taught Labour history, In the 60s, I could rent a flat/house easily, if i wanted to change, I inquired at local agents, shop window. There were no private sector controls. Majority of renters were content with what they had. The private sector at that time was huge. A scandal erupted, in which a couple of landlords exploited tenants(yes, we currently have similar, but it's a tiny minority, easily controlled). The then Labour Government, initiated controlled rents, right to stay. Landlords couldn't get rid of tenants, & were compelled by tribunal with threats of violence, to accepting such low rents, there wasn't money for maintenance. Overnight the rental market collapsed, I couldn't get a property. Those already protected, were OK, the rest of us, were stuffed. Subsequently, Labour sped up it's housing programme, built substandard housing, All at council tax payers expense. Maybe Jenny Jones is old enough to recall these events, but does not wish to bring them to your attention. Controlling rents is always a good vote winner, when the electorate have no knowledge of such past events.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lightfoot Letters
59 Fans
14:15 on 03/05/2012
I can not tell if you are advocating social engineering, enviormental issues or living like our grandparents and just calling it green !?
Permalink  |
Jonathan Rooks
0 Fans
13:31 on 03/05/2012
Interesting to see that when NGOs analyse the manifestos, how many come out in favour of jenny Jones and the Green Party.

Surely that's what elections should be about - policies, not personalities.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
lenuk
133 Fans
11:52 on 03/05/2012
"...We will cut fares, invest in public transport and reduce traffic. We will improve green spaces and reduce pollution. We will make housing affordable and hold down rents. We will reduce the gap between rich and poor...."

And make the sun shine 365 days a year, and pave the streets with gold, and .....
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jacksdad41
Quant Je Puis
182 Fans
 
18:30 on 03/05/2012
Spot on @lenuk - the "green vision" is laudable and in a perfect world it would be a great place to live. Can London become any more "green"? CONgestion charging, rents that would get you a mansion up North (yes there are actually places outside of Londinium). Just a very simple question - who is going to pay for this halcyon dream? London has become so sprawling it surely is unmanageable to effect the changes dreamed up by the Green party. Like the lib dems before power sharing, it is always possible to promise anything when you know you havnt a snowball in hells chance of being called out. I thought the streets were paved with gold anyway - at least for the few in the desireable postcodes it seems.
Permalink  |