Greens launch regional Council Election campaign with Deputy Leader in Sheffield

The Green Party election campaigns for Sheffield and the Yorkshire & Humber region will be launched in Sheffield on Monday April 16th at 11am by party Deputy Leader Amelia Womack. The launch will be at the Central Library, which the Labour-run council recently tried to sell off to turn into a hotel.

Gains are expected in Sheffield where the aim is to significantly increase the current council group of 4 councillors and create a strong opposition group. Cllr Alison Teal will be defending her seat in Nether Edge & Sharrow. Local community campaigners Kaltum Rivers and Martin Phipps seek to gain seats where there are currently Green councillors in Broomhill & Sharrow Vale and City wards. All 3 live in the wards they are contesting. Experienced City ward councillor and Speaker for the Green group on Sheffield Council, Rob Murphy, is the Green candidate in the Sheffield City Region mayoral election.

Sarah Wiltshire aims to win Ingleton and Clapham in Craven after Andy Brown’s 2017 breakthrough to become the first Green elected onto Craven council. Ed Carlisle and Tim Goodall aim to win Hunslet & Riverside and Headingley in Leeds after second places in 2016. Greens will also be defending seats in Shipley in Bradford, Newsome in Kirklees and Farnley & Wortley (3 seats) in Leeds. 184 candidates are standing in 11 council areas.

Green Party Deputy Leader leader Amelia Womack comments:

“Green councillors have consistently stood up for their constituents and delivered real change across the region. Labour have big council majorities in all the South Yorkshire councils which is taking away transparency and diversity across the region.

“Labour in Sheffield has actively supported the roads and street trees private contract, spends time and money trying to keep contracts secret, and makes big decisions behind closed doors. At least one Labour councillor has been suspended for not voting as instructed by Sheffield Labour bosses. Green councillors are free to act in the best interests of local people. Voters can send a message on May 3rd – it’s time for other voices and ideas to be listened to.”

Notes

1. The launch will be at 11am adjacent to the Central Library opposite the Winter Gardens. Amelia Womack, Cllr Douglas Johnson and mayoral candidate Rob Murphy will speak, supported by members and supporters, and will be available for group photos.
2. Green candidates are standing in all wards in Sheffield, Bradford, Calderdale and all but one ward in Kirklees. A summary of the 184 council election candidates in the Yorkshire & the Humber region:
   Barnsley 9
   Bradford 30 – 1 defence
   Calderdale 17
   Craven 2
   Harrogate 20
   Kirklees 22 – 1 defence
   Leeds 37 – 3 defences
   North East Lincs 8
   Kingston upon Hull 8
   Sheffield 28 – 1 defence
   Wakefield 4
3. Currently there are 20 Green Party local authority councillors in the region as follows:
   Bradford 3
   Craven 1
   Kirklees 3
   Leeds 3
   Scarborough 2
   Sheffield 4
   York 4