The Green Party has suspended campaigning today after last night's terrorist attack in Manchester.
All national campaigning events, including the billboard launch and Welsh Green Party manifesto launch are cancelled.
In a statement following the attacks, the Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said:
...

"Our thoughts are with those affected by this appalling incident in Manchester. For young people to be targeted in this way is utterly atrocious.
"As ever our emergency services have done us proud - and we pay tribute to the police, firefighters and paramadics who stepped up in this time of need.
"Our country will never be divided by terror. The people of Manchester showed last night just how strong the bond of friendship is between the people who live on these islands - and in the coming days and weeks we'll show that we won't let terrorism tear us apart."

We have been informed that a vigil for the victims in Manchester will take place at St Andrews Church. Rugby tonight at 7.30pm.

HOW you can help GRAHAM BLISS FOR RUGBY – GREEN PARTY General Election CANDIDATE!

Rugby Green Party have unanimously selected Graham Bliss as our General Election candidate.

Visit our Special General Election Sites at https://www.facebook.com/GreenGrahamRugby/

https://www.facebook.com/notes/graham-bliss-for-rugby/my-20-point-manifesto/472132869790325/ Graham is happy to have feedback on developing his policies for Rugby from members and supporters.

graham4rugby@gmail.com

BUILDING OUR TEAM – HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Grahams wants to build up a team of helpers with skills that can be used in the campaign – Please do make contact and say what you would like to do.

URGENT APPEAL FOR MONEY

Rugby Green Party needs to urgently raise at £500 to cover the deposit and need additional funds to pay for leaflets and other campaign material.

Please visit our crowd Funding page via our Facebook Page or direct http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/a-green-candidate-for-rugby-bulkington-2017?utm_source=crowdfunder&utm_medium=dashboardfacebookblock&utm_content=shareonfacebook&utm_campaign=marketing

If you do not want to use the crowd funding option, donations can be made direct by bank transfer - To (Bank): The Cooperative Bank - Sort Code: 08-92-99 - Account Number: 65273869 - Name of Account: Rugby Green Party.

Please also visit these sites

Rugby GP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyGreenParty

Website: http://rugbygreenparty.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: With over 1000 followers - https://twitter.com/RugbyGreens

We are a grassroots party and need your help!

Kind Regards

Roy Sandison – Rugby Green Party Co-Coordinator

PS – For local Election results visit the Rugby Green Party site -Thanks to all our candidates for standing.

Results from Warwickshire County Council and Rugby Borough Council By Elections
Thanks to everyone that voted Green yesterday. The Tories clearly benefited from UKIP collapse on a low turnout. The underlying issues of NHS cuts, austerity, poverty pay, the housing crisis and other material conditions have not gone away as will be apparent as the General Election gets under way. The Tories also will face many questions about HARD BREXIT and its impact on workers and community rights.
Nationally the Green Party in Warwickshire kept our two Green County Councillors and made some good gains across the country. We now have more Councillors then UKIP.

Admirals & Cawston – 31.82 per cent turnout
Judith BARRETT (Green): 103 – 3.80%
Con 1,412 - 52.14%
Lib Dem 227 – 8.38%
UKIP 144 - 5.31%
Lab 822 – 30.35%
Benn – 25.5 per cent turnout
Graham BLISS (Green): 137 – 7.02%
Con - 502 – 25.7%
Lib Dem -189 – 9.69%
TUSC - 68 – 3.48%
Lab - 1,054 – 54.05%
Bilton & Hillside – 43.83 per cent turnout
Lab - 446 – 12.98%
Kate CROWLEY (Green): 151 – 4.39%
Con - 1,691 – 49.24%
Lib Dem - 1146 – 33.37%
Brownsover & Coton Park – 28.52 per cent turnout
Lib Dem - 167 – 7.84%
Peter Reynolds REYNOLDS (Green): 153 – 7.18%
Con -1,007 – 47.29%
Lab - 802 – 37.67%
Dunsmore & Leam Valley – 44.21 per cent turnout
James HARRISON (Green): 145 – 4.13%
Lab – 434 – 12.36%
Con - 2,636 - 75.12%
Lib Dem – 294 – 8.37%
Earl Craven – 32.76 per cent turnout
UKIP - 168 - 6.39%
Lab -: 580 – 22.08%
Felicity ROCK (Green) 143 – 5.44%
Con -1,735 – 66.07%
Eastlands – 37.12 per cent turnout
Con - 745 – 25.38%
Ellie RODERICK Ellie (Green): 99 – 3.37%
Lib Dem - 1,584 – 53.96%
Lab - 507 – 17.27%
Fosse – 35.74 per cent turnout
Lab - 626 – 19.54%
Lib Dem - 260 – 8.11%
Con - 2,188 – 68.31%
Peggy WISEMAN (Green): 129 – 4.02%
Hillmorton – 43.84 per cent turnout
Con - 1,625 – 55.91%
Lab - 739 – 25.43%
Julie-Ann MACHIN Green) 116 – 3.99%
Lib Dem - 426 – 14.56%
New Bilton & Overslade – 28.55 per cent turnout
Con - 715 – 32.17%
Lab - 1,019 – 45.85%
Lib Dem – 333 – 14.98%
Roy SANDISON (Green): 111 – 4.99%
TUSC - 44 votes – 1.98%
Rugby Borough Council by-elections
Coton & Boughton – 29.67 per cent turnout
Con - 809 – 52.15%
Lib Dem - 120 – 7.73%
Peter REYNOLDS Green): - 89 – 5.73%
Lab - 533 – 34.36%
New Bilton – 25.87 per cent turnout
Lab - 784 – 53.29%
Con - 504 – 34.26%
Roy SANDISON Green) 107 – 7.27%
Lib Dems - 76 – 5.16%

A Green Party voice for Rugby & Bulkington in the General Election

Our members have already been working extremely hard to pick up the bulk of our costs but we do need that final push from all those supporters and activists out there who believe in equality not poverty, public services in public hands and power to communities.
Pollution is a real killer in our community with tens of thousands of people  suffering an early death every year. Rugby and Bulkington people especially are at risk due to the amount of heavy traffic in our town and village centres and on nearby motorways and with industry like CEMEX likely to be less regulated under the Tories plans for hard Brexit
We need a strong Green voice in the forthcoming General Election, defending our community  from  further Tory attempts to put the profits of big business ahead of the needs and health of ordinary people.
Politics need to change in this country - help us with this task.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/a-green-candidate-for-rugby-bulkington-2017?utm_source=crowdfunder&utm_medium=dashboardfacebookblock&utm_content=shareonfacebook&utm_campaign=marketing

Green Party slams further cuts to Recycling by Tory led Rugby Borough Council

Press Release

09/10/16

‘Green Party slams further cuts to Recycling by

Tory led Rugby Borough Council’

“Scrutiny is needed says Greens”

Rugby Green Party have slammed the proposal to cut Green Bin collection at the festive period and the following two months of January & February as not making any environmental or financial sense and will just lead to even more fly tipping in the borough.

Roy Sandison from Rugby Green Party says “Everyone knows that waste increases at the Christmas time including green and food waste and our Tory led Council is just promoting the likelihood that more waste will be dumped on our streets and lanes”

“Local residents will have already seen the impact of the disastrous policy of closing down much used local Reclying centres in Rugby leading to a massive increase of flying tipping and the massive costs it means to clean up our communities."

“Making it easier for people to recycle is the way forward and this decision that is already on the council website will compound a serious problem for Rugby and this time with 3 months of food waste left to deal with.” Say Roy

“The massive amount of funds spent on the vanity projects of the Tories over the Rugby World Cup was at the expense of basic council services it seems” says Roy.

“Rugby Green Party calls for a cross party group including green groups outside the council chamber to come together to find a way that meets the needs of our communities  - as a modern clean green council should be”

“This strategy must include the reopening of local Reclying centres, provision of new ones and reversal of the cut to the Green Bin service.”

Roy continues “Rugby Borough Council says its “clean, green safe” on its notepaper - but is it true?  The evidence and proposed actions of the local Tories suggest it is not!”

Rugby Borough Council Election Results 2016

Rugby Borough Council Election Results 2016

We are proud to say we fought a campaign for REAL POSITIVE CHANGE IN RUGBY and an  'issue' based campaign against the proposed housing developments with the main clear position of  rejection of the local plan for 12,000 'luxury houses' as well as safe guarding our town centre - with an excellent leaflet and team.

Benn

Lab 837 54.59% Con 245 16.09% UKIP 179 11.76% Green (Graham Bliss) 133 8.73% Lib Dem 128 8.40%

Bilton

Con 1070 54.67% UKIP 305 Lib Dem 290 14.67% 15.43%  Lab 220 11.13%  Green (Steve Wright) 91 (4.60%

Eastlands

Lib Dems 981 49.92% Lab 373 18.98 Con 334 16.91% UKIP 179 9.19% Green (Peter Reynolds) 72 3.67% Tusc 26 1.23%

Hillmorton 

Con 672 41.07% Lab 514 31.41% UKIP 283 17.29% Lib Dem 92 5.62% Green (Paul Machin) 69 4.21%

New Bilton

Lab 702 51.16% Con 403 29.37% Green (Roy Sandison) 126 9.18% Tusc 71 5.71% Lib Dem 5.10%

Newbold & Brownsover

Lab 630 44.91% Con 491 35.02% Green (Lorna Dunleavy) 175 12.48% Lib Dem 106 7.56%

Paddox

Lib Dem 1095 49.12% Con 455 20.41% Lab 307 13.77% UKIP 244 10.94% Green (Julie-ann Machin128 5.74%. .

Rokeby & Overslade  Lib Dem 1196 51.48% Con 527 22.68% Lab 471 20.27% Green (Kate Crowley) 3.78% Tusc 48 2.06%. *was a lab seat.

The Lawfords and Wolston

Con 1086 60.31% Lab 436 24.14% Green (Elanor Roderick)138 7.63% Tusc 136 7.53%.

VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE - VOTE GREEN IN RUGBY 2016

VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE - VOTE GREEN IN RUGBY 2016
Benn: GRAHAM BLISS
Bilton: STEVE WRIGHT
Eastlands: PETER REYNOLDS
Hillmorton: PAUL MACHIN...
New Bilton: ROY SANDISON
Newbold & Brownsover: LORNA DUNLEAVY
Paddox: JULIE-ANN MACHIN
Rokeby & Overslade: KATE CROWLEY
Wolston & The Lawfords: ELANOR RODERICK

Please contact us by email rugbygreenparty@googlemail.com or below if you wish to leaflet in your area or would like a poster.

Thanks

3000 people are missing off the register please contact us to check you are registered or register here https://www.rugby.gov.uk/info/20026/elections_and_voting

Green Party Leader Visit to Rugby a great success!

Rugby Green Party members are over joyed with the great success of their Leader Natalie Bennett visit to Rugby that took place on Friday.

Rugby Green Party spokesperson Roy Sandison says “The day could not have gone any better”.

“ Natalie was able to tour the town centre with local members pointing out the damage of the out of town shopping policy being promoted by the Tory Council at the expense of our town centre.”

“Natalie had an exciting visit to Works 4 Me -a ground breaking Employment, Art and Recycling enterprise for people with Learning difficulties in Albert Street including taking questions from people with Learning Difficulties about how the Green Party is able to support them”.

“Natalie was  quizzed on Green ideas by school students at Paddox School including  meeting members of their Eco-Council”

“Natalie met representatives from the Newbold Chapel Cafe using ‘waste food’ to tackle poverty in their community. Natalie shared ideas about how other similar projects were gaining funds and why the Government needed to change its policies.”

“And finally finishing off the day with a packed public meeting of local people taking questions and hearing about our policies on the EU, Workers Rights, Opposing privatisation of the NHS, Support for the Junior Doctors Strikes and tackling climate change.”

“It was a really good visit and Natalie was impressed by how local people were coming together to promote enterprise and defend our community” says Roy

Find more pictures and radio interviews here

https://www.facebook.com/RugbyGreenParty/?ref=bookmarks

https://twitter.com/RugbyGreens

Natalie meeting Ellie a local Rugby Party member

Lucy and Howard ask about Green Support for their community building project

in Newbold the Newbold Chapel Café with

Lorna and Alex Green Party members pictured as well as Natalie.

Packed Rugby Green Party Public meeting with Natalie taking questions

Local members Alex and Ellie explain to Natalie how threaten
closure of the Coop Store  will mpact on the town

The Closure of M&S in the town centre is a blow to the

sustainability of the town centre

Natalie in discussion with Joel and Kate from Works 4 Me

a fabulous enterprise at 3 Albert Street

Natalie in discussion with Lynne from Works 4 Me in their busy shop

Natalie meets the Eco Council at Paddox School

Natalie answering some excellent questions from School Students

from Paddox School

Lucy and Howard ask about Green Support for their community building project

in Newbold the Newbold Chapel Café with

Lorna and Alex Green Party members pictured as well as Natalie.

Packed Rugby Green Party Public meeting with Natalie taking questions

Rugby Greens warn of 'Ideological' policies of Tories

Press Release from Rugby Green Party

26/11/2015

“Rugby Green Party welcome Cameron's & Osborne's retreat over Tax Credits and cuts to Police but warn to beware of continued ideological assault on much cherished services by Tories in Rugby”

“Our NHS is likely to go into ever deepening crisis this winter with millions facing the stark choice between heating and food for their families. With tens of thousands of vulnerable people likely to die from the cold this year with the savage cuts in insulation and warm home initiatives taking place by the Tory Government.

The Tories declared aim is to cut public services in favour of tax cuts for the super rich” say Roy Sandison from Rugby Green Party.

Caroline Lucas Green Party MP says “Even if all local councils used their new powers to raise council tax by 2% to pay for social care, that would only raise £2bn, far short of the overall funding gap of £9.5bn by 2019-20 predicted by the Local Government Association.”

Lucas also criticised Osborne’s plans to scrap nurse training bursaries:

“Behind the Government’s headline figures on the NHS lurk dangerous cutbacks.

“It beggars belief that Osborne plans to scrap nurse training bursaries and replace them with loans. Just as the Government faces strikes by junior doctors they are showing their contempt for NHS staff by plunging nurses into further into debt for their training.”

Roy Sandison, Rugby Green Party spokesperson says “Our local MP, Mark Pawsey, will have a very nice Christmas with his inflation busting 11% pay rise but for many people in Rugby a visit to the food bank beckons. Too many people will be crossing their fingers with the hope that they won't need to use the in crisis NHS or ambulance services this winter”

“Osborne supported the bail out of his friends in the banking sector that caused the mess yet the rest of us are picking up the tab. That is not fair and doesn’t make good economic sense! Says Roy

Rugby Green Party challenge Mark Pawsey MP over Trade Union Rights!

Dear Mark Pawsey

We note you intend to vote for even more attacks on the rights of UK workers with the Trade Union Bill before Parliament and we would ask you reconsider.
As you will be aware their has been their has been relentless attack on workers’ rights and organised labour in the UK for almost four decades which has undermined workers’ legal protections and introduced a series of anti-trade union laws in the UK by consecutive governments making our laws the most severe in the EU.

Rugby Green Party believes such attacks on trade union rights must be challenged as attacks on fundamental human rights.
The Trade Union Bill before parliaments  is a direct attack on workers’ rights including the right to organise; the freedom of association; the right to function freely; the right to peaceful protest; the right to strike and the rights on freedom of expression.
One of the proposes is on voting thresholds which will require 50% of workers in a workplace to vote for strike action before it is legitimate. Abstentions, that is those that do not vote either way in the ballot, will be treated as ‘No’ votes.
We note that yourself FAILED to meet this threshold in the recent election in the Rugby Constituency and would ask you not to be hypocritical in voting for such a proposes.
If YOU do we in Rugby Green Party would ask you to immediately resign your seat so that a by election can be called to enable you to meet your own criteria.

Rugby Green Party Statement on Terry White

On Tuesday, Terry White re-joined the Liberal Democrats and made a Press Release to the local media – this is our response.

Rugby Green Party Statement on Terry White
24/07/2015

Terry White made several references over the last year that he felt betrayed as a young person, and former student, by the Lib Dems.

From 2010 to 2015, the Lib Dems were part of a coalition government that deepened NHS privatisation and savagely cut our public services.

We’re surprised at Terry’s objections to the Green Party wanting a far better gender balance among our general election candidates.

Terry stood for election as our local co-ordinator only two weeks ago without any objection over how the Green Party nominates our local or general election candidates.

We’re proud of having a female leader (Caroline Lucas or Natalie Bennett) since 2008 and the most women general election candidates in both 2010 and 2015 across the entire UK.

We also do the same with encouraging young people to be active. Terry was one of seven Green Party general election candidates across the West Midlands alone who were 30 or younger on election day.

The Green Party is and will remain a champion of the rights and positive contribution of disabled members to the Green Party, including internally having a national officer responsible for this work on our executive committee, and a very active disability group - we note at no time has Terry formally raised his concerns with the local party who after all selected him as our General Election candidate.

 In Rugby, the Green Party is already preparing for the next local and 2017 county council elections. We have tripled our membership in Rugby in the last year, and, in May, Green Party received over 1 million votes in a general election for the first time.

Notwithstanding these points, Rugby Green Party wishes Terry White well and note that he references disagreements with the national party and not the local party who Terry readily admits have always been supportive to him.

Rugby Green Party

Terry 4 Rugby - Some campaign Pictures

Visit https://www.facebook.com/terry4rugby for updates on the campaign.

GREEN COUNCILLORS IN RUGBY WILL SAVE AND BUILD OUR TOWN & COMMUNITY

Rugby Green Party stand (14) in every ward in Rugby!

Rugby Green Councillors will:

·         Bring the Rugby Bid in house to cut costs and immediately cut the fees for independent trader - Rugby traders are paying the same as in cities.

·         Open an indoor market, cut fees to market traders, promote pop-up shops, give one year’s free council tax to new independent traders with less than six employees, and fund advisers to enable small businesses to gain necessary support at start up.

·         We will encourage local performers and musicians by provision of free space.

·          The toilets will be reopened in Clifton Road as a modern town needs these basic services.

·         The community recycling centres closed by the Tories will be reopened and improved.

SAVE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

·         We propose to cut energy bills by seeking to provide free insulation and solar panels and self energy producing items for all rented homes & Communities in Rugby including grants to owner occupiers.

·         Green Councillors will end the threat of Bedroom Tax evictions in Rugby. We work with local residents struggling to pay bills – mainly caused by low pay and zero hour contacts.

·         We will build houses for rent in association with the community, and not at the behest of developers on cherished green spaces.

·         We will defend public services and support youth services and provide increased grants to the voluntary sector.

Make Rugby the Green Engineering capital of the UK

·         Green Councillors will work with local businesses and trade unions to build on the engineering skills that exist in Rugby to produce turbines, blades and other items for the new Green Energy sector that Trade Unions and Green Party know could create 1 million jobs!

·         Rugby has plenty of skilled workers to be part of the one million green jobs revolution Green Councillors will demand that the local council step up to be part of this.

Improve Public Transport in Rugby

·         We could have brilliant, cheap public transport in Rugby; Green Councillors will demand buses and train services are integrated and modern bus stops are built so that you can be sure what bus is going to turn up and when and seek to cuts fares by 10%

Vote Green

Admirals & Cawston – Peter Reynolds

Benn – Steve Wright

Bilton – Kate Crowley

Boughton & Coton – Keary Birch

Dunsmore – Louisa Taylor

Eastlands – Alex Linden

Hillmorton – Max Anstey

Leam Valley – Phil Godden

New Bilton – Roy Sandison

Newbold & Brownsover – Lorna Dunleavy

Paddox – Amber Merrick-Potter

Overslade & Rokeby – Graham Bliss

Revel  & Binley Woods – Fintan Collins

Wolston and The Lawfords – Ellie Roderick

For real change in Rugby