Manchester Green Party has called for £1 single fares on all local bus routes as it launched its campaign for the 2023 local elections.
The Greens, currently the largest opposition group on Manchester City Council with three councillors, will be standing a full slate of candidates across Manchester in the local elections on Thursday 4 May.
The party has also published its 2023 manifesto A Fairer, Greener Manchester as it hopes to get more Greens elected to Manchester Town Hall.
A total of 33 Green candidates will stand across Manchester’s 32 wards, including in Woodhouse Park, where Greens hope to win a third seat and complete their team of councillors in the ward.
Scott Robinson, Chair of Manchester Green Party, said: “We are delighted to offer Manchester residents the opportunity to vote Green by standing 33 exciting candidates right across the city.
“We know how strong the appetite is for Green policies in Manchester after we became the largest opposition party in the city’s council chamber last year.
“We hope that voters will embrace our vision of making Manchester a more equal, sustainable and enjoyable place to live. Let’s make a fairer, greener Manchester!”
All of Manchester Green Party’s candidates are standing on the party’s manifesto, A Fairer, Greener Manchester, which has been drawn up based on policies decided democratically by local party members.
Like last year, this year’s manifesto outlines five key areas that Greens elected in Manchester intend to prioritise over the course of the year ahead. These priorities are:
- Treat the climate crisis holistically: Ensure that Manchester City Council’s commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is a holistic policy priority.
- Cut the cost of living: Tackle the rising cost of living by giving Manchester more affordable and energy-efficient homes, investing in the local economy, and calling for the introduction of a Universal Basic Income.
- Transform Manchester’s transport: Give Manchester an integrated transport network which prioritises active travel such as walking and cycling, and public transport. The party will call for a £1 single fare on all local bus routes and free bus travel for all under-22s.
- Improve health, welfare and opportunities: Ensure better public services, bigger arts and culture, and brighter prospects for life, while giving more Mancunians access to green spaces like gardens, playgrounds and parks.
- Stand with migrants and marginalised communities: Show solidarity with Manchester’s migrant and marginalised communities, and support the resettlement of all those fleeing conflict in Manchester.
The Green Party’s best chance of gaining a fourth seat in Manchester is once again in the Wythenshawe ward of Woodhouse Park, where it won a second seat in 2022 — the only seat that opposition parties won in Manchester in last May’s local elections.
Green group leader Cllr Astrid Johnson was elected in the ward last May, and now her colleague Anastasia Wiest is bidding to join her on Manchester City Council.
Anastasia, 27, has been a Green Party member for over two years and recently worked as a natural environment tutor for the environmental charity Groundwork.
“If elected, I would love to be a voice for young people in my ward, who are underrepresented in politics,” Anastasia said. “I also hope I can inspire more people to engage in politics by demonstrating that people should be able to expect active and caring local politicians.
“If we are to enact real change, we need a movement that is inclusive and recognises that social and environmental justice must come hand in hand.
“I’m very proud of what’s already been achieved in Manchester, and hope we can do even more with another voice on the council.”
Manchester Green Party’s 2023 manifesto A Fairer, Greener Manchester is available to view here.
The full list of the party’s 2023 local election candidates, along with their biographies, will soon be available to view here.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
The Green Party is the second largest party on Manchester City Council with three councillors. The Green group leader is Cllr Astrid Johnson.
Manchester is one of four Greater Manchester boroughs with Green representation. In addition to three councillors in Manchester, the Greens have active councillors in Tameside, Stockport and Trafford.
The Green Party currently has over 500 councillors across England and Wales, two members of the House of Lords, three London Assembly members and one Member of Parliament.
For further information, please contact Chris Ogden at press@manchester.greenparty.org.uk.