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 engines by 2012 creating a third less pollution. The Greens would like to repeat this success in Norwich.
Darren Johnson said:
"There are no Green MPs yet in the House of Commons - and it shows! Greens have been a breath of fresh air on Norwich City Council and now we need that Green voice in Westminster. That is why I am urging people to vote Green on July 23rd."
Later in the day the campaign bus will be touring the Thorpe area.
Tuesday July 21st: The Green Team welcomes aboard the London bus Sian Berry, Green Party candidate in the London mayoral election. The London Assembly recently introduced a “Living Wage” of £7.45p an hour – above the government’s official minimum wage. It’s now the minimum for public sector workers in London and businesses are encouraged to follow suit. Thanks to Green Party councillors, the “Living Wage” has been adopted in principle by Norwich City Council. Economists are currently assessing at what level the “Living Wage” should be set in Norwich. At 10.00 the campaign bus will drop Sian Berry outside City Hall where she will meet Green councillors to help them promote the scheme.
Sian Berry said:
“As a councillor in Norwich, Rupert Read has worked hard on local issues, from housing to fair pay, and has made a real difference to people's lives. 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 five years, and I urge the people of Norwich North to vote for him as a hardworking and principled representative for them in Westminster on July 23rd.”
Later in the day, the bus will be touring the Catton area.
Wednesday July 22nd: Together on the campaign bus, Rupert Read and Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party and leader of the Green official opposition on Norwich City Council, will be making stops in the Hellesdon area to focus on the main issues of the Greens’ campaign in Norwich North:
* Make them listen - about accountability and Green proposals for reform of Parliament.
*Protect public services - no to privatisation and protecting public services locally
*Green jobs now - green job creation in public transport, local agriculture and renewable energy
*Protect the countryside - opposition to large scale development in Norfolk countryside.
FURTHER INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS 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) who will be on the bus: 07794 690322
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