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Greens Win!

Brighton Pavilion seat won by Party Leader Caroline Lucas

Caroline Lucas became Britain's first Green Party MP after winning the Brighton Pavilion seat

Top three parties at a glance

Political Party Vote Share %
Green 31.3
Labour 28.9
Conservative 23.7

Constituency Swing

8.4% From LAB to GRN

Caroline Lucas will be Britain's first Green Party MP after winning the Brighton Pavilion seat.

Ms Lucas, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, notched up a majority of 1,252 over her nearest rival, Labour's Nancy Platts.

She said the people of the constituency had made history by propelling her party to power on a swing of 8.4%.

"Thank you so much for putting the politics of hope above the politics of fear," she told them.

"I pledge that I will do my very best to do you proud," she said, adding: "For once the word historic fits the bill."

Ms Lucas previously said a hung parliament would be "interesting".

"Both in terms of perhaps increasing our chances of getting a fairer electoral system, so that people's voices are properly heard. But also of course in giving the Greens that bit more influence.

"So, I think these are pretty exciting days ahead," she told Eco.

The party had had 200 people campaigning in Brighton on Thursday to ensure those who had said they would vote Green did so, she said.

"Tonight the people of Brighton Pavilion have made history by voting Britian's first Green MP to Westminster." She added that the result was a triumph of hope over fear.

Around the country, early indications suggested the party polled more than 200,000 votes which, if proportional representation were to be introduced, would be likely to give them more seats.

In a sign of the party's growing influence and support the Greens fielded more than 100 candidates in the election and already ahve 126 councillors spread around 43 local authorities.

The victory in Brighton ends Britain's status as the only major European country never to have had a Green MP. There have, however, been Green MEPs from Britain.

Zac Goldsmith, the millionaire former editor of the Ecologist magazine and green adviser to the Tory party, took the Richmond Park seat for the Conservatives from Susan Kramer, the Liberal Democrat.

He overturned the Liberal Democrats' 3,700 majority but said the poll had "gone down to the wire", adding: "I don't think anybody would have wanted to call the result at all until a few minutes before it was called."

Despite his party allegiance he said he welcomed the election of Ms Lucas for the Greens in Brighton.

"The presence of a more green-thinking Parliament is a good thing," he said.

Caroline Lucas, the leader and an MEP, beat her Labour and Tory rivals in the Brighton Pavilion seat with a 1,252-vote majority.

The result is a landmark for the Greens, who have built on growing support at a local and European level to take their first ever Commons seat.

“This isn’t just a moment with just one MP out of 600 or more – it’s when a political party takes, for the first time, its rightful place in our parliament,” Dr Lucas said in her acceptance speech.

“After people’s faith in politics has been trampled into the mud by the expenses scandal it’s not the best time to ask people to take a risk and put their faith in politics. We asked the people of Brighton to do that tonight we have their answer. For once the word ‘historic’ fits the bill.”

The Greens have had a strong showing in Brighton for many years. In the 2005 General Election, they secured almost 22 per cent of the vote, pushing the Liberal Democrats into fourth place. The party had 13 seats in Brighton’s last City Council, putting it in joint opposition with Labour.

The party promoted its radical economic policy in the bohemian seaside city, focusing on its opposition to the main parties’ spending cuts and plans to create new jobs in sustainable industry. They pledged a £170-a-week state pension and would impose a permanent tax on bankers’ bonuses.

The election campaign was a hotly contested three-way race between Labour, which previously held the seat, the Conservatives and the Greens.

Former unionist Nancy Platts fought hard to portray herself as a left-wing radical, citing her opposition to the Iraq war and the renewal of Trident, but came second to Dr Lucas in the “alternative” city.

Conservative candidate Charlotte Vere, a London-based businesswoman and Cameron A-lister, came a surprise third in the seat, despite the two neighbouring constituencies turning Tory.

Dr Lucas, 49, a former Oxfam advisor, has led the party since 2008 after successfully campaigning to abolish the previous system of joint spokespeople.

She has been a member of the European parliament for the South East of England since 1999, but will relinquish the role now that she has been elected a constituency MP.

Caroline Lucas - The new politics - Independent - 25/5/10




 

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GM crop trials are a waste of taxpayers' money

13th June 2010

Environmental groups have described new trials of genetically modified crops in the UK as a waste of money.

Commenting on the GM potato crop trials in Norfolk, Friends of the Earth's Food Campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran told Eco:

"The Government is wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers' money by forging ahead with unnecessary and unpopular GM crop trials, which threaten local farmers with contamination.

"The largest scientific farming study every conducted saw no clear role for GM crops in feeding the world - and their roll-out in other countries reveals that they benefit big business, not local farmers or hungry people.

"In South America, vast GM soy plantations are wiping out rainforests and devastating farming communities to provide animal feed for factory farms in the UK.

"We can feed a growing global population without trashing the planet or resorting to factory farms and GM crops - the Government must help farmers shift to planet-friendly farming."


Top Explorer Seeks Rare Tropical Diseases on Five year Cycling the World Trip

incognito MOSQUITO NET

 

15th December 2009

With a deep interest in Tropical Medicine, explorer Dr Steve Fabes will set off on a five year expedition to cycle across the world deliberately crossing zones rife with malaria and other diseases, using only natural anti-insect products by incognito, and intensive consultation from incognito creator Howard Carter.

 

Leaving on 5 January 2010, Steve’s long-term physical health is vital to his goal to cross six continents and 60 countries, and has placed full confidence in Howard’s advice and the incognito range of sprays and other products which will keep him protected from all manner of biting and stinging insects even in the deepest of jungles.


Steve will also be using Durallin-impregnated mosquito nets from incognito to protect himself when sleeping exposed to the elements and hungry mosquitoes – most species of which are much more active at and after dusk.

 

Howard himself contracted malaria despite taking anti-malarial drugs and a Deet-based repellent in Dec 1998, which provided him with the inspiration to create the range.  Steve is a doctor at Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospitals in London, and will be raising money on the trip for Merlin – the specialist health aid agency which saves lives in countries in crisis. incognito gives 10% of its profits to charities.

 

Starting off from St Thomas’s on 5 January 2010 at 1.30pm, incognito will be providing Steve during his five year epic trip with on-hand advice on how to avoid insect bites and malaria, as well as keeping him supplied with essential anti-insect products, in particular their signature spray.

 

The incognito range of products which includes a spray, moisturising after sun lotion, shampoo, incense sticks, lemongrass and citronella soap, along with an innovative loofah soap, all contain the same, deliciously fragrant organic Citronella found only on the island of Java, This provides increased protection against bites over ordinary citronella as insects have no tolerance to it.  All of the range has more than one purpose and specifically contains no harmful ingredients such as DEET, parabens or synthetic additives, and is certified by the Vegan Society apart from the loofah soap, contains honey.

 

incognito spray is on Special Offer at Holland and Barratt from the 21st Jan to 18th Feb and available Duty Free at Harrods Gatwick and Heathrow, The full range can be purchased from John Bell & Croydon, Planet Organic, Whole Foods or direct through the website www.lessmosquito.com  -which also has useful free advice on avoiding bites.

 

Passing through some of the poorest countries in the world, the Guys and St. Thomas’s doctor will stop off at deadly disease hotspots as well as health centres supported by Merlin - an aid agency that gets remote clinics back up, saving lives in crisis countries. Steve aims to raise £50,000 to support the charity’s life-saving work.  Full details of the trip can be seen at www.cyclingthe6.com

 
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