Isle of Wight prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party, Vix Lowthion, will from 10am today (Tuesday) be launching her election campaign for the Isle of Wight Green Party.
Green Party launch
((Apologies, live coverage didn’t work properly, so see below notes from speech that will be tidied up once back at the office))
Membership to the Green Party on the Island has tripled. Had a fantastic response from Islanders.
Working full time as lecturer at college, looking after my three boys, most of time on my own.
Have six policies for the common good.
There’s a greater inequality in society – with widening gap between rich and poor becoming a bigger problem. In last 30 years told the trickle down economics would be the solution – but the policy is curbing growth.
GP Manifesto to released in the Spring. Highlight Green Party policies directly related to Islanders.
__Living wage
Citizen’s income – the living wage an important issue.
__Education
Blanket descriptions of appalling education are a misrepresentation of the shake-up and improvements made in schools.
Shakeup was mis-managed in five years. Academies supposed to be the solution to problems. But it’s left the secondary schools unaccountable to ordinary people. Surplus places problems. Green Party aim to have secondary schools under local authority control.
As a Lecturer at sixth form college – can see students deserve best quality teachers. It’s expensive and there are infrequent links to mainland making recruitment a problem.
__Ferries
I didn’t leave Island the whole time during summer hols as I usually do. It was too expensive. 14 years of current MP has actually got us to a worse place.
The Better Ferry Campaign is not working. Pressure can only be limited when MP supports private companies. I’m not suggesting a renationalised ferry service overnight, but changes needed.
Also looking at Islandline trains – the MP suggested replacing with diesel engines and steam trains. It’s not a 21st century way of thinking. We need to broaden the options. Need to be run for the public not profit.
__Health
Crucial to secure funding for the NHS – in the UK 9% GDP is spent on health. The solution is not to bring in private companies. Reinstatement bill – need to re-establish principles at point of care.
__Renewal energy
Other parties are paying lip service to effects of climate change. We need to invest in renewable energies. Yes, there is an environmental threat from Fracking, but the bigger problem is distraction.
Reliance on fossils fuels is wrong. The Island has sun, tides, Navitus Bay – the Green Party will support growth in green jobs.
A sustainable solution to climate change needed.
__Dairy farming
Father was a dairy farmer, so understand the pressures they are under. Dairy farmers need protection, as do small shop-keepers and the High Street. All things are tied together.
__Cuts to public services
Island – looking at some of the local problems – due to local government cuts. These are the direct result of cuts from government.
Lists out cuts to public services, toilets, tourist information, libraries, outsourcing of services etc.
I can’t sit back and watch another £30m cuts being made in next three years. It’s why I joined the Green Party last year.
Real change needs to be made on a larger scale. Need to stop the attack on services Islanders hold dear. This is a Green Island.
The green surge has arrived on the Isle of Wight.
Huge round of applause from members and supporters.
