Young PPCs week 12: Adrian Ramsay
I said in my last post that there was a huge amount of work to be done between the time of writing and the General Election. Now, less than three weeks before polling day, I'm feeling very optimistic, because a huge amount of work has been done.
We're on target in all areas of the campaign – huge numbers of doors have been knocked on, thousands of leaflets have been given out, and our posters and billboards are up all over Norwich. What is particularly pleasing is that many of these are being displayed in places that have never had one before. This is because we've gone out and talked to voters about what the Green Party can offer them in terms of alternatives to the other parties. And it seems they've liked what they've heard.
Locally we've had lots of coverage in the press, and we’re using our social media campaign to reach more people online. The momentum really seems to be on our side. We've also had national coverage, particularly since the election was called on the 6th April, when I spent the day in London as the national representative for the Green Party, being interviewed outside Westminster by the BBC News Channel and Sky TV.
A large part of how successful the campaign has been in Norwich is down to the help we receive from volunteers. We've received and continue to receive help from a dedicated team of Norwich South residents, and new volunteers are appearing each day. We're also receiving help from outside of the constituency, including the surrounding towns and villages in the county, as well as people from Oxford, London, Edinburgh, even Gottingen in Germany. People have come together to fight for the change that we believe will make our society stronger and fairer.
Another visitor we had recently was Jenny Jones, former Deputy London Mayor and the Green Party Chair, and currently one of the Green Party's London Assembly members. Jenny came to visit Norwich last Monday and the team described her visit as inspiring. Jenny addressed our volunteers about the very real prospect of success in the Green target seat of Norwich South before canvassing teams dispersed to various parts of the constituency.
Jenny also came to Norwich to help highlight the impact I will have if I’m elected as a Green MP in a hung parliament. Jenny’s success as one of two Green AMs in London demonstrates what is possible, and so far the Green members on the London Assembly have made a huge difference. So much so that 203,465 Londoners voted to re-elect them in May 2008.
Getting Green MPs into Parliament is an opportunity at this election that cannot be missed. As the General Election approaches, the likelihood of a hung parliament is growing, and this makes the prospect of Green MPs even more significant. Green MPs will make a real impact in influencing policy, holding the Government to account and bringing fresh ideas and energy to the failed three-party system.
In a hung parliament – in which no party has an outright majority – smaller parties can make big impacts. In the hung parliaments of Scotland and Germany, for example, and in the European Parliament, elected Greens have achieved real progress in tackling social and environmental issues.
At this General Election, Greens offer a fresh voice and a fresh approach. In the Norwich South constituency, the Green Party is already ahead of all other parties in local and European election votes. This makes Norwich South one of the best prospects in the country for electing a Green MP. It's exciting to be at the forefront of a local campaign that is likely to have a national impact.
Adrian Ramsay, 28, is the Deputy Leader of the Green Party and their candidate for Norwich South.
(Photo courtesy Green Party)
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