Latest national poll shows Greens just 6% behind Labour, overtaken UKIP. South West likely to be even closer
31 May 2009
The latest poll published today shows The Green Party just six percentage points behind the Labour Party. The ICM poll taken before the nation's favourite Joanna Lumley urged people to cast a vote for the Green Party is an indication that Ricky Knight is on course to become the first Green MEP in the South West.
Ricky Knight said today, "I urge people to cast a positve vote for the Green Party on Thursday 4th June. We have the policies to tackle the recession, ameliorate climate change and ensure that fairness and honesty is the principle on which politics is based."
This week a report from former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's thinktank, The Global Humanitarian Forum warned that climate change is affecting 300 million people and economic losses amount to more that $125 billion a year. This is more than all the present world aid says the report and it forecasts that climate change could cost $600 billion a year by 2030. Already 300 thousand people a year are dying as a result of climate changes.
Ricky Knight said,"We have a warning here that calls for urgent action. Greens have been working on climate change for over twenty five years and the more Greens we have in the European Parliament, the better chance we have for putting in place policies that can tackle global warming. The other parties have been tinkering around the edges. We need policies that secure our children's and grandchildren's future now."
Roger Creagh-Osborne, Green candidate in St Germans, said: "On the doorsteps we are finding people understandably angry over the expenses row. Britain's Green Party MEPs have been ranked above the groups of all other British parties on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste. Britain and Cornwall needs a new vision. Greens are have that positive vision for the future with our million-jobs manifesto for tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time. These elections might yet signal a desire for positive change."
The ICM poll is a national sample, and here in the South West Labour traditionally does less well. Labour sources (Alan Johnson) are admitting that they could be wiped out in Devon and Cornwall whilst the Greens are poised to win seats on both councils.
Paula Black, Green candidate in Totnes Rural added: "In Devon County and Cornwall a Green group on the new unitary Council would prove very effective in standing up against the imposition of Westminster party policies and practices. We need to see these councils run for the good of the people, not as a political fiefdoms."
Ends:
Note to editors: The poll was commissioned for the Sunday Telegraph by ICM and showed:
Con 29 (-1)
Lib Dem 20 (+2)
Lab 17 (-7)
Green 11 (+1)
UKIP 10 (nc)
BNP 5 (+4)
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