This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Green party branches merge ahead of next May’s County Council elections
26/09/2024
“Only by electing more Green Councillors will environment and nature be given the priority that they deserve”
Two local Green Party branches have formally agreed to a merger in a bid to increase their campaigning strength by sharing resources.
The West Oxfordshire Green Party and the North Oxfordshire Green Party will come together as a single branch – The North and West Oxfordshire Green Party.
The move was partly prompted by recent Parliamentary boundary changes and a new strategy to better focus on local issues.
At the recent General Election the Green Party won four seats, but secured 6.7 percent of the vote, up from 2.7 percent in 2019.
The aim for local party members is now to redouble their efforts in next year’s County Council elections. The new branch already includes one County Councillor, eight District Councillors, The Bicester Town Mayor and a number of Parish and Town Councillors.
The newly elected Chair of the North and West Oxfordshire Green Party, Barry Wheatley, said: “It’s an exciting time to be part of the expansion of Green Party activities in Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. The combination of expertise and resources of the two branches will allow us to move up a gear in our campaigning for new seats and support for our existing councillors.
“The trust that the electorate has already placed in our councillors is generating real change locally that protects public services and ensures nature recovery, whilst at the same time addressing costs of living issues. But we need to speed up those changes if we are to mitigate the impacts of climate change such as flooding.
“Only by electing more Green Councillors will environment and nature be given the priority that they deserve. It’s my hope that the creation of a new branch will encourage the hundreds of new and existing members to join in our activities and work with us to generate real hope for a greener future for all.”
Ian Middleton, the Leader of the Cherwell District Council Green and Independent Alliance Group and the Oxfordshire County Council Green Group, said: “This is an exciting new beginning for both our groups bringing together enthusiastic and committed members from two districts with a wealth of campaigning and council experience which I hope will help us to significantly increase our representation at all council levels, but particularly on the County Council where we are currently in joint control of the administration.
“In future years I hope we will also be able to grow our numbers on both West Oxfordshire and Cherwell District Council where we are also in joint control with other parties”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam