The Green Party election campaigns for both Sheffield and the Yorkshire & Humber region will be launched in Sheffield on Friday April 22nd by Party leader Natalie Bennett.
The launch will be on the border between the Nether Edge & Sharrow and Broomhill & Sharrow Vale wards – both wards that Greens expect to win seats in.
In the Yorkshire region, Greens aim to hold seats in Bradford and Kirklees where Robert Barraclough has a tough defence against the Tories in rural Kirkburton. Joe Salmon aims to win the first Green seat in Headingley, Leeds, after a near miss in 2015. The Greens are defending a seat in Leeds.
Important gains are expected in all-out boundary change elections in Sheffield where the aim is to increase the current council group of 4 councillors and create a strong opposition group. 8 wards are being targeted. Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems are the only parties standing in all 84 seats in Sheffield.
Cllr Jillian Creasy became the first Green councillor in Sheffield in 2004, in the last all-out election. Cllr Creasy went on to be one of 3 Green candidates with tremendous second-place results in the 2015 general election, in Sheffield Central constituency. There has been a Green council group since 2006 and the group has held the balance of power on 3 separate occasions.
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett commented:
“Green councillors have proven their ability to stand up for their constituents and deliver real change. By challenging the destructive priorities of councils led by the old parties that have run out of ideas, Green councillors have made a real difference to people’s lives.”
Speaker for the Green Group on Sheffield City Council, Cllr Rob Murphy said:
“We can change Sheffield for the better in May. Sheffielders have the chance to vote for a Council that will listen, value their views and work with them not against them.”
The recent bus consultation and changes highlight a Labour council that is not listening to Sheffield people. Green councillors continue to offer constructive alternatives to the council and work hard on the ground for the people they represent. Greens will ask voters to support our local manifesto which emphasises our approach of working closely with local people.”