Hustings Cancelled

Ashley is very upset that this evening’s Hustings have been called off. This arose from the Labour candidate, Ross Hatfull, refusing to share a platform with the BNP and trying to persuade the other candidates to do likewise.

This is not the way to deal with the British National Party. The Green Party policy on this is that we only share a platform with the BNP where there is opportunity to challenge their views, which is precisely what a hustings is for. Ashley comments

"Unfortunately the other parties have fuelled the problems which the BNP seeks to exploit. Tax increases on the working and lower middle classes brought about by Labour, the decline of employment in Britain's manufacturing and energy sectors - as started by the Conservatives - and continued by Labour, have inevitably led to some people feeling disenfranchised with the political system. The BNP's sectarian and scapegoat finding policies would do nothing to address these problems however, and it is a shame that I was unable to speak to residents at the hustings to promote the Green Party's vision of a positive future for Wanstead and a positive future for Britain, via our national policies, such as the creation of a million new jobs in the energy sector."

Ashley also works closely with the anti-racist Redbridge and Epping Forest Together group.

Weggis

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