WHILE Greens are the outsiders of Swindon politics – as they are often nationally – the local party is hoping 2021 might be different.

With national politicians from the main parties talking about an economic and social green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and its lockdowns, environmental campaigners in Swindon think this could be a chance to make inroads and take a seat or two in the council chamber.

Elections agent Andy Day said the group was pleased the May vote is going ahead in the first place.

He said: "We contacted both Swindon MPs last year, urging them to ensure that the local elections go ahead – and can go ahead safely.

“It’s now probably too late one of our suggestions – online voting – but we want to see much wider use of postal voting and the introduction of more polling stations to allow easier social distancing."

“The Greens would bring a much-needed change to the stale Swindon council chamber. The old parties have been playing musical chairs, toeing the party line, and voting like they’ve been told.

"We want to see a council chamber that will pull together to forge a bright new future for Swindon.

“We stand up for what we believe in. Elected Green Party members are free of the party whip system that often prevents members of other parties from voting the way their conscience or their experience demands.”

It will be no surprise that the state of the environment and climate change will be front and centre in the party’s appeal to voters.

Co-chairman of the Swindon party Glynis Hales said: “For the past year we’ve listened to politicians telling us that we need to follow the science – well the science says that the climate crisis is the greatest threat we all face.

“We are still the only political party that is committed to tackling climate crisis as our top priority. It would underpin everything we would do if elected in Swindon.

"We are the only party which has the courage and commitment to implement policies necessary to prevent a climate emergency."

While Swindon Borough Council has just agreed its carbon reduction strategy Ms Hales' co-chairman Andy Bentley believes it should be much more ambitious.

He said: “The council has taken a few small steps to reduce its own carbon footprint, but it should be supporting the whole borough in that journey. That means every household, every business.

“In Swindon we’d like to see much greater investment in the transition to greener energy. We’d work with local tradespeople on a council-backed scheme to take advantage of the government’s Green Homes Grants and work towards making all council housing in the borough a showcase for how energy-efficient housing should look in the 21st century.

“We’d also look to become a provider of green energy, building on the council’s first, small, solar projects by investing in more solar and wind projects and selling that energy into Swindon.”

Transport is another key plank in the party’s manifesto.

Mr Bentley said: “We want joined-up thinking to make sure that bus and cycle lanes are planned better, with more thought given to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

“We’d stop the never-ending merry-go-round of new road building and focus on fixing potholes and streetlights, sorting out the verges, parking and paths.”

The Greens want the lessons of the last year to be learned – whether it’s the importance of space for people to walk, run and cycle, or that it is possible to make sure nobody is sleeping rough on our streets.

Mr Bentley said: “The pandemic saw the council make sure that no-one needed to be sleeping rough. We will work hard to make homelessness a thing of the past, we cannot return to the old ‘normal’ if that means our neighbours have to go back to sleeping on the streets.

“Imagine if the Green Party’s universal basic income plan had been in place at the start of the pandemic. No-one would have had to worry about whether they’d get support from one of the chancellor’s schemes or not, that safety net would have already been there for them.”

“Inequality and lack of investment in communities are underlying reasons for why many people are disillusioned with politics, and politicians, we will tackle those things head on.”

The party will be aiming to field candidates in as many of the 20 contests in 19 wards as possible.

The leader of the Swindon party’s youth wing, Bradley Williams, will be one of them.

He said: “This year has been extremely hard on everyone and people feel disenfranchised more than ever with politics.

"We need to restore the public’s trust and make sure they are listened to and represented in the council.

“We need to be talking about how we better the lives of everyone in Swindon. We need to be bold and creative to tackle the challenges that face our town, not the same old policies we have seen from the two old parties.

“We need a breath of fresh air in the council chambers, and we can get that by electing Green councillors.”

Under-25s urged to make their voice heard in May

Swindon's Young Greens leader is urging under-25s to get out and vote on May 6.

And Bradley Williams is as concerned about getting young people to the polls as he is to get backing for his party.

Mr Williams who said: “It seems people feel more disenfranchised with politics as the years go by.

"We see this even more in the youth of the nation.

“According to Youth Vote UK, less than half of voters aged 18-24 voted in 2019. This compares to the national average of 61 per cent that year.

"It also is a drop from the 2017 general election, when 53 per cent of 18–24 year olds voted. When it comes to the local election, young people are even less likely to vote.”

He cited a sense among young people that their voices are downed out in the battle between the two main parties – but he said voting is the best way of being heard.

He added: “It's important to understand why we have the issues we face, but we need to work together to fix them and not just complain about who left us in this mess.

"We must stop this tribal party politics and start working for what's best for the citizens.

“I call on the youth of Swindon. Your voices will be only be listened to if you register to vote and cast it. We are the future generation, and our voices must be heard,

“Register to vote – it takes no more than five minutes.”

People can register to vote on swindon.gov.uk until Monday, April 19.

Party hoping to make a change

The profile of a party hoping to make a change completes a five-week Adver series looking ahead to the local elections on May 6.

Unlike the ruling Conservatives, the leading opposition group Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Independent Tories, Swindon’s Green Party have no elected councillors in the town.

The local elections, which will see residents voting for borough and parish councillors as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire, were put back a year because of the pandemic.

Last week the government confirmed the vote would be going ahead and has pledged to add £31m to the coffers of the councils which run elections to help them make extra provision to keep the public, officials and counters safe.

Voters will have to bring their own pen or pencil, candidates will not be allowed door to door during the campaign and people shielding will be encouraged to register for a postal vote. 

It will also be possible to arrange a proxy vote – where a trusted friend or family member goes to the polling station to cast someone else’s vote – until 5pm on polling day itself if the voter suddenly needs to self-isolate.

Visit swindon.gov.uk for details on how to apply for a postal or proxy vote.