We caught up with Rupert Read, the Green Party’s lead candidate for the 2009 European Electionin Epping while he was campaigning last Wednesday.

A group of greenies, in an old beaten up Routemaster running on recycled vegetable oil, travelled across Eastern England to ensure that their voice is represented in the European Union.

The team, led by Rupert Read, the Green Party’s candidate for East England, handed out promotional leaflets to spread their message, encouraging residents to vote.

The Green Party is more than just an environmental party, says Councillor Read. “That’s actually a complete misconception. We have a completely holistic programme covering all areas of policy.”

“It’s not just environmentalism. It’s also about social justice. It’s about putting economics on a sound footing. It’s about building a better world for all of us,” he adds.

Read says that his party’s top priorities for the elections are a Green New Deal for Britain and Europe and cleaner politics.

Green Party supporters travelled across Eastern England in an old beaten up Routemaster running on recycled vegetable oil to ensure that a green voice is represented in the European Union. Photograph: Joyce Paul.

The Green New Deal is an approach to the economy that improves the way people lead their lives.

The party has policies to tackle both the economic crisis and for society to become sustainable. It plans to create one million jobs through investment in renewable energy sources, housing, public transport and social care.

“That means a big investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture and public transport, creating a million new jobs across Britain, stabilising the economy and helping, rather than hurting the environment at the same time,” adds Read.

The party, he says, also hopes to clean up politics in Britain and in Europe and clamp down corporate lobbying and have complete transparency on expenses.

The campaign is going well with residents moving their way, says Read who is also a philosophy lecturer at the University of East Anglia.

“A lot of people are quite fed up with the old three parties and they are looking for a positive alternative. The UKIP United Kingdom Independent Party) are just a bunch of kooks and right wing crazies. They don’t even believe that climate change is real which makes them ignorant to the greatest threat facing human civilisation. The BNP are, of course, a bunch of racists and thugs. So, if you are looking for a positive alternative to the main three parties, it’s absolutely got to be the Green Party.”

Member of the public, Casaluci Tony, 56, says that he likes what the Green Party stands for. “I don’t have children but I’m very keen on the future of the planet for other people’s children to inherit a good planet. And also the way parliament has been found out effectively for cheating and conniving. I’m looking for a bit more honesty and something that is valuable going forward for the planet,” he says.

Sidebar

Some of the ways in which the Green New Deal aims to tackle pressing problems

  • A clampdown on tax avoidance to generate £10 billion in revenue.
  • Energy efficiency measures for UK homes, schools and hospitals to create 80,000 jobs, reduce harmful emissions and cut fuel bills.
  • Free social care for the elderly which will improve quality of life and will create 60,000 jobs.
  • Increase in the proportion of electricity that comes from renewable sources.