THE Green Party will be fielding candidates in every ward at May’s local elections for the first time.

Swindon Borough Council seats are up for grabs on May 7, and the Swindon Area Green Party has named 19 candidates.

Last night the party launched its local manifesto at Cafe Art in Victoria Road, with many of the candidates on hand to answer questions from visitors.

Prospective parliamentary candidates Poppy Hebden-Leeder, for Swindon North, and Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn, for Swindon South, were also at the event.

The party has never had a councillor elected to Swindon Borough Council, but a spokesman said the increased number of candidates had come on the back of membership numbers quadrupling in the south-west in the past year.

“This year the Swindon Area Green Party will be standing candidates in every Swindon council ward, in addition to fielding candidates in both parliamentary seats,” he added.

“This is the first time that every Swindon voter will have the chance to vote Green in the local council elections.”

Old Town candidate Rae-Louise Mckellar said: “I am very excited to be standing in Old Town, and even more pleased that I’m able to do it on behalf of the Green Party.

“I believe in transparency, fairness and honesty – values I see time and time again in the Green Party, and I know that we can make a real change to the lives of people in Swindon.”

According to Andy Bentley, candidate for Gorsehill and Pinehurst, the Greens offer Swindon the chance for real change.

He said: “The Green Party are already offering the only real alternative to business-as-usual politics at a national level.

“I’d like to see that same willingness to embrace new ideas and work together for the good of all brought into local politics too.”

 

ALL THE WARDS AND CANDIDATES

  • Blunsdon and Highworth: Andy Day 
  • Central: Adam Grizzly Wilkinson-Moore 
  • Chiseldon and Lawn: Paul Sunners 
  • Covingham and Dorcan: Lucy Wilkinson-Moore 
  • Eastcott: Graham Mattingley 
  • Gorsehill and Pinehurs: Andy Bentley  
  • Haydon Wick: Simon Fairbourn 
  • Liden, Eldene and Park South: Rachel Edwards 
  • Lydiard and Freshbrook: Livio Pavone 
  • Mannington and Western: Tracey Jeapes 
  • Old Town: Rae-Louise Mckellar 
  • Penhill and Upper Stratton: Bob Heritage 
  • Priory Vale: Simon Smith 
  • Rodbourne Cheney: Rod Hebden-Leeder 
  • Shaw: Ken Kimber 
  • St Andrews: Christine Cleere 
  • St Margaret and South Marston: Howard March 
  • Walcot and Park North: Bill Hughes 
  • Wroughton and Wichelstowe: Chantelle Smith