Sir, – I would like to thank the 2,313 people who voted for me in the General Election – and those who also voted for Green Party candidates in 17 wards across Richmondshire and Hambleton. Many of those candidates received more votes than the candidates of the old establishment parties.
Nationally, the Green Party retained its MP, the much-acclaimed Caroline Lucas, who increased her majority. We came second in four seats and third in 14 seats. Because of the absurd first-past-the-post system, our 1.15 million votes nationally won us just the one MP, so we are grossly under-represented in Parliament.
Once again the ruling party has a Commons majority with a minority of the vote: only 36.9 per cent of the votes cast. As only 66 per cent of people voted, this equates to just 24 per cent or less than one in four of the total electorate. Three out of four voters did not vote for this Conservative Government.
Locally, our party has grown in numbers, confidence, and ambition. We are proud of our election campaign, swimming against the tide of a well-funded Conservative operation. We are already planning our next steps and interested readers can learn more on our facebook page: rcgreensyorks.
LESLIE ROWE
Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Richmond (Yorks) in 2005, 2010 and 2015.
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