Rupert's Read

[I have just sent this message to Oliver Kamm and Danny Finkelstein, two of those whose writings in the Norwich North byelection campaign in effect required me to pen the posting below entitled: 'Me: a clarification'. Unlike some of the other attacks on me during the campaign, Kamm and Finkelstein had the decency to make theirs on the record, and without selectively quoting bits of sentences I wrote. Nevertheless, I believe them to have seriously distorted my views, and I would welcome the chance to debate with either of them publicly over these matters. I hope that they will have the courage to take up my invitation!]   'Hello. I'm writing today because I've noted your criticisms of me in your blog-columns, during the past month of the Norwich North byelection campaign; now that I finally have some time to draw breath and potentially respond, it occurs to me that the most interesting and satisfactory way in which we could engage over these matters wo...

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ChangeTheClocks/

During the recent byelection in Norwich North I was subjected to having my views misrepresented and my character viciously attacked in a number of areas. These depictions are both baseless and (in a number of cases) libelous. Lest there be any misunderstanding let me for the record state my position on the areas and issues in question quite clearly... I abhor violence and I abhor racism and discrimination in all its forms. I condemn any person who commits violence against scientists and others in the name of animal rights. (I also condemn those who perpetrate vile experiments against animals for the purposes of testing cosmetics etc.) I condemn any terrorist attacks on civilians. With regard to the response of Islamic-fundamentalist militants to Western intervention in Iraq, I don't believe that we can be surprised if we are subjected to attack by those who oppose the presence of Western troops, given that our attack on Iraq was unprovoked and internationally-illegal....

Report from the International mission for solidarity, accompaniment, and observation in Honduras [from my trusted friend and philosopher colleague, Thomas Wallgren]: An international mission for solidarity, accompaniment, and observation in Honduras has arrived in Tegucigalpa on Monday 27th July. (See mission statement with list of members, attached.) On Monday, July 28th the mission was received by several local human rights organizations. (See list at the end.) It also witnessed two demonstrations organized by the supporters of the Zelaya government On Tuesday, July 29th the delegation took part in a press-conference organized by the Committee for relatives of disappeared detained people in Honduras (el Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras COFADEH), announcing the mission and reporting about the first observations of the mission. (See the press release enclosed – in Spanish only.) On the same day the mission accompanied two Hondurian human rights organizati...

We have had to combat this idea making the rounds in some of the press that "the Greens were disappointed" with our Norwich North result. Well, obviously we were disappointed, in that we'd rather have won, etc; but it was nevertheless easily our best by-election result ever: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/jul/28/green-party-norwich-north-byelection Your leader (The message from Norwich North, 25 July) confuses the city of Norwich with the constituency of Norwich North. The Greens are very strong in Norwich. However, two-thirds of Norwich North was outside of the city in the Broadlands suburbs, where we have comparatively little presence. Norwich North was our best national byelection result ever. It's clear that the byelection was another boost for ourselves and Ukip, and another bad day for the "big three" parties in Westminster. Even the Conservatives lost 2,000 votes, compared to their result in 2005. Cllr Rupert Read Norwich Green party == ht...

9.7% is best ever by-election result for the Green Party Green party campaigners were today celebrating their performance in the Norwich North by-election after more than tripling their vote, compared with the 2005 general election. The result was by far the best performance ever for the Green Party in a Westminster by-election. The Green Party received 9.7% of the vote, up from 1,252 in 2005 to 3,350 today. In comparison to 2005, the votes of Conservative, Labour and LibDem parties all went down. The Labour and LibDem vote also fell as a proportion of the turnout. Adrian Ramsay, opposition leader on Norwich council, and the Green Party's deputy leader, said: "This was our best by-election result ever. Our best previous result was 7.4% in the Haltemprice and Howden/David Davis by-election. We started from a low base (2.7% in the 2005 general election), and we trebled our vote. On the ground, we had roughly £12,000 to spend, compared to the £100,000 that the Tories...

' 'This excellent small business is helping to convert homes and businesses to solar energy and providing training for traditional plumbers and heating engineers to learn new skills for a low carbon future.  This is just the sort of enterprise which the Green Party wants to see reproduced a thousand times across the UK and its work should be incorporated into local colleges to equip the workforce for thousands of new green jobs. This won't just happen by leaving it to the market: there must be a national programme of insulation, and energy conservation with green job creation and the reskilling of existing workers: the future economy must be made green. Investment should be directed into green new jobs not wasteful I.D cards, motorway building and wars. '

See links for the By-Election question responses that were filmed from the NO2ID Hustings debate on last Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SFXQyi5SVs - Question 1, ID Card - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqa4p23rtDg - Question 1, ID Cards - Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9oFwBX7BY4 - Question 2, Afghanistan - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2znXyOks5YA - Question 2, Afghanistan - Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjmZBb_08GU - Question 3, Norfolk Unitary Authority.

On the eve of polling in the Norwich North by-election, Green Party candidate Rupert Read urged voters to make history by electing the first Green MP at Westminster . He said:   " Norwich people should not doubt their own power to change politics. They can. They already know that by voting Green they can get a Green politician - there are 20 Green councillors in Norwich . If they vote Green again (tomorrow/today), they will get a Green MP, make history and change the face of British politics. They will also give millions of British people hope, whereas one more Tory, LibDem or Labour MP would change nothing.   "This campaign has been a great step forward for the Green Party. We originated a pledge to run a clean campaign, which most of the other main parties signed. We've been helped by many supporters both local and from far afield, with a 'battle bus' run on recycled vegetable oil, but with...

To the Editor; The Norwich North byelection offers a remarkable opportunity for the reshaping of British politics, less than a year out from the next General Election.  For the first time ever, a Parliamentary byelection is taking place in a centre of Green Party strength, and the Greens' prospects are (as a result) being taken wholly seriously by voters and the media.  Less than six months out from the Copenhagen climate conference, a conference that will make or break efforts to protect our climate from the battering to which human activities are subjecting it, it would be extremely timely to have an unprecedentedly strong showing from the Green Party in this byelection. Moreover, the Greens' strong commitment both to cleaning up politics and to achieving social justice only add force to the argument. And against the backdrop of an unprecedented and understandable loss of faith in the 'main 3' Parties, it is clear that there is all to play for in Norwich ...

This is the proprietess of Anna's Farm shop (Anna) in Norwich North, giving me a prize organic beetroot, in return for which I gave her a Green posterboard!

----- Original Message ----- From: "10 Downing Street" < number10@petitions.pm.gov.uk > To: < rupertread@fastmail.co.uk > Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 1:00 PM Subject: Your petition to the Prime Minister has been approved > Your petition has been approved by the Number 10 web team, and > is now available on the Number 10 website at the following > address: > > http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/N-NorwByelection/ > > Your petition reads: > > We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to move the writ > for Norwich North: make the byelection there happen asap! > > At present, and until this byelection is called by the > government, the citizens of Norwich North are deprived of a > voice in Parliament. There are rumours that the byelection may > be delayed until the Autumn. THAT WOULD BE QUITE WRONG. If the > byelection IS delayed until Autumn, then Norwich North > ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00lvxwg/Look_East_Special/

Thanks to everyone who has donated time or money to our campaign so far - the support has been fantastic and we've now raised nearly £2500 , every penny of which is priceless as we Greens struggle to compete financially with the westminster party machines. We still need as much help as possible though, on the ground (and at the bank!) so if you think you can assist please get in touch using the details below or click the donate button on the left hand side of the blog!  FURTHER INFORMATION and to JOIN THE BUS TOUR Rupert Read: 01603 219294 / 07946 459066 John Francis (media officer): 07713 654784 Trevor Phillips (Norwich Green Party Press Officer): 07794 690322   

This piece on the rising 'voter rumble' in the Norwich North by-election, was in yesterday's SUNDAY TIMES, penned by Rod Liddle. Better still: that voter rumble, according to Mr. Liddle, is the Green Party coming up! This is some article... read it and pass it on!! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6719116.ece

The Green Party’s campaign bus takes to the streets of Norwich this week helping by-election candidate Rupert Read to deliver his message to every corner of the constituency. In Green Party livery, the classic Routemaster looks like a familiar London red bus but its actually green, running on recycled cooking oil. “In the same way,” says Dr Read, “we’re hoping to turn Norwich from red to green this week; out with Labour, in with Green.” Monday July 20th: Rupert Read and his Green Team of volunteers are joined on the London bus by the chair of the London Assembly, Darren Johnson. Starting from the railway station soon after 10.30 they’ll make stops around the city centre including Castle Meadow, All Saints Green and Theatre Street, speaking to passers-by about Green Party policies for radical improvements to public transport, including re-regulation of the bus industry so that it meets social need. Green London Assembly members ensured that all new London buses will run on hybrid engi...

    Rupert Read and Peter Tatchell with members of the Norwich LBGT community Rupert Read, Peter Tatchell and Norwich North activists with our campaign messages!

[ A different version of this has just been published on politics.co.uk ] After 12 years in power, Labour has lost its way. The scrapping of the 10p tax band, the poor deal for pensioners and PFI, are all examples of how Labour's traditional values of fairness, equality and social justice have been discarded. In contrast, the Greens believe that each and every one of us, as citizens of this country, should enjoy equal rights and fair treatment, and where they are disadvantaged they should have access to the help they need to help themselves. Even before the "credit crunch" struck, roughly 15% of 16-25-year-olds were out of work. In response Greens prioritised the creation of 1 million jobs (in renewable energy, energy efficiency, local food, and in public services). We want long-term investment to create a healthier Britain; for example an NHS free at the point of use (free GP visits, prescriptions and dentistry). Older people deserve to be treated with fairness and res...

GREEN INVESTMENTS A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, SAY UN AND TOP ASSET MANAGERS 'Green' investments are no longer just a luxury, but are now a legal responsibility, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (<" http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=593&ArticleID=6247&l=en ">UNEP) and a powerful group of asset managers controlling some $2 trillion in assets. The 120-page publication released today argues that if investment consultants and others do not incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their services, they face "a very real risk that they will be sued for negligence." It also stressed the central role that the world's largest institutional investors – including pensions funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and mutual funds – have in easing the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient green economy. "ESG issues are not perip...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8152523.stm 15:27 GMT, Thursday, 16 July 2009 16:27 UK Debate rages over academy schools By Nic Rigby BBC News, Norwich One of the big education issues for parents in Norwich North - where a by-election is taking place next week - is that of academy schools. These schools, originally called city academies when first established in 2000, are state-funded privately run schools with outside sponsors. In Norwich, Heartsease High School became the Open Academy in 2008 despite opposition from parents and teachers. Controversy dogged the process and its first principal has since departed. Heartsease received extra investment from the government and sponsors the Bishop of Norwich and Christian businessman Graham Dacre. The pupils had new uniforms and the school had a new principal Lindsay Knight. Everything appeared to set the scene for success, but then at the beginning of the month parents of pupils at the school received letters saying...

http://bit.ly/17vRnv

Education for over sixteens in East Anglia is being damaged by the recession. That was the warning today from Rupert Read, the Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election, and a Norwich city councillor. Dr Read, who is a lecturer at the University of East Anglia,  was responding to a report released today by the University and College Union (UCU), which reveals that i n the Eastern region at least 39 jobs are at risk in further education and 28 jobs are at risk in higher education: a total of 67 jobs at risk.   In total across the UK 5,891 jobs are at risk or being cut with 4,593 in higher education and 1,298 in further education. Over 100,000 students will be affected. The union warned that the figures understate the problem as many colleges and universities have not released their full staffing plans, but job cuts are growing. Rupert Read said:   'Across the UK there is a worrying cutback in the staffing of ...

Great article in the Guardian on the Greens and Norwich North. Perhaps someone should point out to the LibDems though that THEY are the ones dividing the non-tory voters...The Greens are the party with the momentum! http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/15/norwich-byelection-green-party

"What we're finding on the doorstep is that people are really looking for a different voice, they're looking for a fresh input into politics. That's what our candidate Rupert Read can provide. That's what I think people are going to vote for on the 23rd." ...Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party Leader.

Norwich Green Party remains sceptical about the Rackheath eco-town which was given the go ahead by government today. Green councillors say the development is part of an oversized growth plan for Norwich and is certainly not yet 'eco' enough. The decision to go ahead, they argue, must now kickstart fresh thinking and consultation on how much development Norwich really needs, how it can be sustainable and how an eco-town can be part of it. The party also emphasises that the best eco principles should in any case be in all local housing and transport stategies. Green councillor Rupert Read, the party's candidate in the Norwich North parliamentary by-election, welcomed the government statement that the eco-town does NOT require the proposed Northern Distributor Road (NDR) - a view long held by Green Party councillors but rejected by other parties. He called for the NDR to be scrapped. The association of the NDR with the plans for the eco-town has been a major reason for Green P...

0700 Thursday July 16 th : Junction of Plumstead Road and Knox Road , Norwich :   Peter, Rupert and supporters will be outside Norwich Prison to demonstrate opposition to moves to privatise prisons. The Prison Service has embarked on market testing exercises aimed at placing more prisons under the control of private companies and imposing new working conditions on staff. Norwich Prison is not expected to be included in the current round but it is feared by opponents of the scheme that its turn may not be far behind. The Greens will demonstrate their opposition to privatisation and their support for staff as they arrive for work. Rupert Read is already concerned about reports that the contracting out of prison education services and the regular re-tendering for them has weakened and disrupted an already poorly resourced service. Re-offending rates are higher among prisoners who do not complete an education course.   1000 Thursday July 16 th : The Forum, Norwic...

BBC 5 live: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ln36r/5_live_Drive_14_07_2009/ Listen from 0.14.00 and especially from 0.15.35, with comments of local people on Norwich North.

“I hope voters in Norwich North will seize the opportunity that this By-election provides them with: to draw a line in the sand between today’s tawdry, life-destroying politics, and the positive transformation that green politics now promises. In Rupert Read, the Green Party has a candidate who could achieve that breakthrough in Norwich North”.

Check out my interview on the Daily Politics yesterday: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8149852.stm

Sian Berry, the former Green Party London mayoral candidate, will join Rupert to campaign in Norwich North on July 21st. Sian says: "I am really looking forward to taking to the streets of Norwich again in support of Rupert Read in the Norwich North by-election next week. I have always known Rupert to be a tireless campaigner and someone with a unique perspective on bringing fair play back into politics. As a councillor in Norwich, he has worked hard on local issues, from housing to fair pay, and has made a real difference to people's lives. And, as a philosopher, he is just as comfortable tackling the big issues, from the best way to deal with climate change to the need for peaceful ways to resolve conflicts. Rupert has already represented the people of Norwich at City Hall for 5 years, and I urge the people of Norwich North to vote for him as a hardworking and principled representative for them in Westminster on 23 July."

He joins the Green campaign on 15 and 16 July Peter Tatchell speaks: Public meeting tonight 7pm Wednesday July 15th The Norman Centre, Bignold Road, Norwich. Now is the time for disaffected Labour voters to support the Green Party and its Norwich North candidate, says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell Below are advance excerpts from his Wednesday night speech in Norwich. Peter Tatchell will say: “Labour has lost its heart and soul. It took us into an illegal war in Iraq. It has eroded hard won civil liberties, commercialised public services like education and heath, and is backing new nuclear and coal-fired power stations, to the detriment of the environment. “The Greens have replaced Labour as the most progressive party in British politics. We Greens are the only party that wholeheartedly defends public services and working people. “I urge disillusioned Labour voters to come over to the Greens. Don’t give your vote to a government that takes you for granted and has betrayed Labou...

Click the link below to read the Letter for Hope in today's Guardian, with the following signatories: Mark Lynas, Mayer Hillman, Aubrey Meyer, John Stewart, Angie Zelter, Peter Tatchell, Mark Thomas http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/14/letter-hope-for-green-mp [N.b. Jonathon Porri t t and George Monbio t have now also signed!] ' This by-election effort is of NATIONAL importance to the Party - let's swing together behind it, nationally and collectively and achieve a real breakthrough in British Politics!'

Green Party city councillors in Norwich want the council and all political parties to express unambiguous opposition to any possibility of the development of a local waste incinerator. Norwich City councillors will tonight (Tuesday 14) be considering a Labour motion which expresses concern about waste management in Norfolk, in the light of the County Council's decision to abandon plans for an 'anaerobic digestion plant' at Costessey, to process waste. The motion seeks to press the County Council to explore alternative waste disposal ideas, but Green Party councillors are concerned that it does not rule out incineration - a method they consider contrary to good waste management and potentially harmful to public health. Green Party councillor Rupert Read will try to amend the motion so that the county council will be asked to categorically rule out incineration from its waste management options. City Councillor Rupert Read said: ' After the County Council's abandonmen...

The Government has recently proposed that the Bank of England should take on the primary responsibility for macro-prudential regulation in this country (see this thoughtful appraisal). Such significant shake-ups in our fundamental financial (and political) institutions do not happen frequently – they are made possible only by crisis. So we do not have repeated opportunities to get them right. We have one shot. This article is a personal ‘think-piece’, a sketch of how to try to ensure that we get this matter right. The recent banking crisis has surely shown that banks that are ‘light-touch’ regulated will invariably end up taking ever-greater risks, in pursuit of ever-greater profits. Such endemic risk is not basis for a secure real economy. Thus I have argued previously that there is a case for the banking sector to be genuinely nationalised (i.e. not run at arms-length), on a long-term basis... Article continues here at:  http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/rupert_read/bank_of_br...

Please try to attend these important hustings - Anglia TV will be present so a good showing from the Greens would be very helpful!

Click the images to find out what the Greens are offering Norwich North (pdf link): http://public.easterngreenparty.fastmail.fm/Small%20Freepost http://public.easterngreenparty.fastmail.fm/Big%20Freepost

It's sad to see the LibDems continuing to practice dirty politics as, out of their extreme fear of finishing behind us, they scattergun more and more vitriol against us/me. What the citizens of Norwich North are saying to me is that they want the candidates to run a positive campaign and focus on the issues. I've been talking a lot today about resisting excessive development around the edges of the Norwich area, and preserving the character of the countryside. April Pond seems by contrast to be basing a significant part of the LibDem campaign on smearing the Greens.  If the LibDems had confidence in their policies, surely they would choose to run on those? Of course Ms. Pond is presumably being told from above how to run the campaign, and so I recognise that she is under pressure to continue to go negative. But she sets the tone and that is why she should sign the Clean Campaign Pledge. I once again therefore invite my Lib Dem and Labour riv...

Patrick Harvie MSP talks about what just a few Greens can achieve in a Parliament The Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election, Rupert Read, is aiming to become the first ever Green MP at Westminster in the election on July 23rd. But in fact the Greens already have two MPs – in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. One of them is Patrick Harvie MSP, who has been a Green MSP for Glasgow since 2003. Mr Harvie will be in Norwich on Sunday and Monday (July 12th and 13th) in support of Dr Read’s campaign in Norwich North. Patrick Harvie says although the Greens may be few in number, they regularly hold the balance of power at Holyrood and have notched up some remarkable achievements, including the first Green Act in Britain – Patrick’s own legislation to tackle hate crime. The Scottish Green MPs have also delievered: * a Climate Change Bill with stronger targets than those set for the UK * a £27.4m Climate Change Fund for innovative communities in Scotland * a £30m Scottish Inv...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8141171.stm