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Isle Of Wight Green Party Unveil Local Election Candidates

It's the Green Party versus the Conservative Party in two Isle of Wight wards in next month's local elections.

The Isle of Wight Green Party has announced its full list of 2021 council elections candidates.

Claire Critchison will go up against incumbent Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr Dave Stewart in the Chale, Niton and Shorwell ward.

While, in the Freshwater North and Yarmouth ward, experienced Green candidate Daniel James will stand against Conservative Peter Spink.

Other candidates include experienced Parish and Town councillors Joe Lever, Jaimie Bundell and Cameron Palin - the latter became one of the youngest councillors in the country last year.

Claire Critchison, Green Party candidate for Chale, Niton and Shorwell, said:

“Our beautiful Isle of Wight countryside needs protection from large scale housing developments, and Island residents need a council which protects our most vulnerable people. Green Party councillor candidates have been working for years in our local communities, through volunteering, campaigning and supporting residents and businesses through the difficult times. Now we are ready and prepared to take our seats in County Hall, and work for a greener, fairer Isle of Wight.”

The Greens say their 2021 team are from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.

Notably a former headteacher and police officer, an ex-nurse and a previous care home worker are among the list, while a number of candidates are self-employed (hospitality worker, therapist, town planning consultant, driving instructor, bar owner) and others work in the creative industries (musician, computer game developer, digital designer, classical performer, writer and artist).

Several candidates work with animals and the natural world, including a food grower, a wildlife worker and a marine conservation campaigner. 

Paul Wilson, Green Party candidate for Lake North, said

“There is only one way for the Island to thrive and that is through a sustainable, progressive approach which harnesses new ideas whilst respecting our countryside and our heritage. The current council’s policies of slashing services and giving preferential treatment to big, faceless companies is clearly not working for Islanders, and the only party who want to preserve the environment and bring fairness back are the Greens. We need an Island that is prosperous as well as ecologically sound, governed through listening and not imposed Westminster ideology.”

Nathan Stubbings, Green Party candidate for Cowes South and Northwood, said:

“We must address the climate emergency. The Isle of Wight is uniquely placed to harness our natural resources for clean, safe and renewable generation of power through solar, tidal and wave power. We can be using our local solutions to be an example to the rest of the UK: where the Isle of Wight leads, Britain follows!" 

More details about the profiles of each candidate and where they are standing for election can be accessed from https://isleofwight.greenparty.org.uk/local-elections.html.

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