For too long now, Doncaster council has been run as a One Party State.

Full statement

That’s bad for the local economy and bad for democracy. Our area has three councillors, two of them are already Labour. We need new voices and new ideas for our local community. If you elect me, I will be free to represent your interests because, unlike the Labour Party, the Green Party doesn’t have Party bosses instructing their councillors how to vote. I am free to listen to you, hear your concerns and take them to the heart of the council. We all know that, as with government, a council without alternative ideas and views is a council without effective scrutiny. No-one is holding them to account. Our locally owned and managed shops, our pubs and many small businesses are struggling and we all lose out when our local economy suffers. When these businesses close we lose meaningful, well paid jobs. We should be encouraging small businesses and start-ups, who feed their profits into the local economy, creating more wealth and more jobs. Currently we have a council that invites big business in who drive down wages and send their profits hundreds of miles away to pay shareholder dividends. We need to be imaginative at seeing how we can use business rates to encourage smaller local owned enterprises. For instance I would like to see all large new retail developments, like the one planned at Herten triangle, include spaces for small local businesses. Just look at the Market Place. Famously it was the best in the region. Now, those hard working people, feel their livelihoods are being ruined and feel let down by a council that consults but doesn’t listen. As someone who lives and works locally you can be sure that my concern for our area is genuine and goes beyond any narrow party interest. Even people who normally vote Labour in General Elections are seeing that a Green Councillor will give them a stronger voice on Doncaster Council. The people I, and the Green team, speak to on the doorstep, the small business owners we meet are telling me it's time for a Green voice on our council. It’s time for fresh ideas! It’s time for change!