Co-leader Jonathan Bartley launched the campaign in Worcester this Friday. The party is aiming to attract voters across the country who feel let down by other parties.

The Green Party is fielding a record number of candidates in the elections on May 4, with 78 standing across Wales. The party has unveiled a five-point pledge for its local elections campaign.

Green councillors will fight for:

• Local green spaces

• Decent social care

• Air fit to breathe

• Affordable homes

• Action on climate change

Co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas said: “The Greens in Wales are standing a record number of candidates this year. From the Vale of Glamorgan to Powys, hope will have a voice in Wales. Global change starts at a local level. Green candidates in Wales can deliver the positive change we all desperately need.”

Grenville Ham, leader of the Wales Green Party, who also runs a not-for-profit renewable energy company, said: “I am delighted to start my term as the leader of Wales Green Party on such a positive note. We have 78 prospective councillors – more than ever before!”

“A better future is possible. It starts with electing Greens to represent your community in the Council elections. Wales Green Party councillors will work hard to rebuild our communities. Across Wales, Greens have the expertise and the appetite to develop sustainable local economies that provide jobs and housing for all. Unlike other parties, the individual councillors are not told how to vote on issues. We believe that our candidates know their local community best.”

“Our prospective councillors know how real life works. None of us are career politicians, but people with common sense, grafters who get things done. We have a vision for what we want our communities to be like. Our councillors will be preparing the ground for green technology that will provide jobs locally, they will work on sustainable housing and ridding ourselves of the rigged energy market. In sustainable energy, we have a chance to cut out the exploitative middle man in energy production and delivery, and we must grasp that for everyone’s benefit.”

He added: “Our vision is to deliver the green economy we need, a future of decent jobs and decent housing, of decent local services and above all else communities that protect our most vulnerable people. Wales deserves better. Voters can't expect things to change if they keep voting for the same old parties who have no ideas. We all need Greens to be elected to change things on a local level.”

Wales Green Party welcomes the news that there will be a general election on June 8th

Grenville Ham, leader of Wales Green Party was buoyant, “This is a great opportunity to stop austerity in its tracks. For too long the main parties have followed an ideology that has forced unnecessary hardship on the poorest and most disadvantaged in Britain, and Greens will continue to demand that this changes."

Pippa Bartolotti, Deputy leader said, “Climate change is the unseen storm gathering over our heads. No Conservative government has done more than break promises over mitigation measures like zero carbon housebuilding, CO2 reduction, and pollution. No one in this Tory government is suffering from either social injustice or sea level rise. They are out of touch, and I hope will soon be out of government.”

The Green Party in Wales will also be campaigning for Proportional Representation. Grenville Ham added, “It’s time for fair play at the ballot box. The scourge of majority rule has brought us Brexit and austerity. Proportional Representation is the key to unlocking real democracy, and we will work with other political parties to make this happen.”

Greens call for emergency intervention into air pollution crisis

The Wales Green Party calls for attention to be given to Wales over the air pollution crisis ahead of the Westminster Government’s draft air quality plan 9th May.

Illegal air pollution breaches are as prominent across Wales as they are in the rest of the UK. Across the UK, filthy air is linked to 40 000 early deaths every year.

Wales Green Party leader, Grenville Ham, said: “Air pollution is causing over 1000 early deaths each year in Wales. Yet come Tuesday, when the Westminster government is due to publish their draft air pollution plan, the Welsh Government will not bat an eyelid. An emergency intervention is needed in Wales to curb illegal air pollution. For the sake of our communities, any delay in tackling this crisis in Wales is unacceptable.”

Wales Green Party deputy leader, Pippa Bartolotti, said: “When it comes to traffic pollution, leadership from Westminster and Cardiff is badly lacking. Air pollution is one of a whole range of issues where the government has to be dragged kicking and screaming through the courts to take sensible action on the multiple environmental crises we are facing.

"Where’s their 'strong leadership’ and plan of action on returnable plastic bottles? On river pollution? And most importantly of all on climate change? The technology is here, and Greens will use it to get us out of the dark fossil fuel age, and to champion our health and environment in every way. “

The High Court ruled on Thursday (April 27) that the Government must publish its draft air pollution plan before May 9.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party of England and Wales co-leader, said: “The Green Party is the only party committed to taking immediate action on air pollution, with investment in cycling, walking, electric vehicles and public transport. We’d also properly fund and expand the Clean Air Zone network and introduce a Vehicle Excise Duty for new diesel vehicles alongside a diesel scrappage scheme.”

Emily Durrant has just been elected for Llangors in Powys, Wales Green Party’s first elected councillor!

Wales Green Party Welcomes Change in Blood Ban Law

The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) is expected to recommend the new set of rules when it gives evidence to the Department of Health in July.

Wales Green Party was heavily instrumental in obtaining the review of the 12 month deferral period of blood donations for homosexuals and their female partners.

Pippa Bartolotti, Deputy Leader of Wales Green Party said, “This extended ban on giving blood was highly discriminatory. With modern testing methods in place it is entirely possible to shorten the risk period from 12 to 3 months. Wales Green Party and Green Pride presented our claim to the Welsh Government almost a year ago, and we are delighted that our campaign has been taken seriously. The new deferral period means that a large proportion of our population is now able to safely give blood after the new risk period of 3 months has been completed.”

Adam Smith, former spokesperson for Welsh Green Pride said “As founder of the campaign #takemyblood I'm over the moon that the Advisory Committee has gone with one of the recommendations we submitted, the effort and hard work myself and fellow Welsh Green Pride and Wales Green Party members put in to this campaign has finally paid off. It's good to see that grassroots campaigning does have a positive effect and the travelling from Newport to Cardiff and early morning trips to London have been worth it.”

Welsh Green Pride deputy speaker, Mike Whittall, said, “ I am pleased to see the ban being reviewed by looking at the science. The blanket ban has seen some tragic consequences. The science tells us that promiscuity raises the risk of hiv infection. I'm hopeful that this review results in better management of risk of hiv infection. It could present an opportunity for health care professionals to engage with at risk individuals, whoever they love, providing guidance in taking care of themselves and reduce their risk of infection.”

Pippa Bartolotti, who is also Parliamentary Candidate for Newport West added, “This is a significant victory against discrimination. Not every gay man is a high risk individual. We are very proud to have been the ones to kick-start this review, and thrilled that SaBTO has taken our campaign seriously. The new rules will assess risk more fairly, and are far more respectful to our gay community.”

Homosexual men and their female partners were banned from donating blood in the UK in 1985, at the height of the HIV AIDS crisis.

There will be a by-election in Yscir, Powys (near Brecon) on the 22nd June.  The Green Party candidate is Bethan Siân Irwin.

There's an action day on Saturday 17th June to support Bethan.

Meet at Brecon Long Stay Car park (next to the bus station) at 10am. Please contact Grenville Ham to confirm your attendance on either gren@walesgreenparty.com or 07921 385344. 

The loss of Theresa May’s clear Conservative majority has already rocked conventional assumptions, agendas and elites. The realm of the politically possible has been blasted open – because the electoral support for Corbyn has allowed a publicly popular discussion about a whole different political economy. Importantly fewer and fewer people are taking notice of the blatant newspaper propaganda being spewed out by the gutter press. This is good news for Greens.

Yes the results of the GE were disappointing, but truly they could not have been any other way given the work being done with ‘Progressive Alliances’. Now we can start to stamp out our agenda clearly. Our work on anti nuclear, farming, the Citizens Income, and small businesses can once again take centre stage.

So it’s a big thank you to all our candidates, teams and helpers who have been solid in their support and work over the last gruelling months. 2 elections in a row is nobody’s idea of a picnic. Looking forward we will need more active members to help spread the word. The Assembly elections might seem a long way away, but this is where we start doing the groundwork.

There are so many people I want to thank – Mirka for working the press office from a beach on ‘holiday’, Ian Chandler for his excellent campaign in Monmouthshire and who achieved our best vote share (despite his internet provider going bust and having to run his excellent social media campaign from public places), Lauren for stepping in as Newsletter Editor at short notice, Pippa P and David for keeping the  information flowing and guiding us through the campaign launch postponement (poor Manchester) and setting up a new launch event in the blink of an eye, and of course Gren for doing so many interviews so very well. Everyone has been incredible. We might be a small team, but we are very effective.

Money is our ever present problem, so I’d especially like to give a huge thanks to all those who donated so much, and enabled us to stand in the election in the first place. Please keep fundraising everyone. Another snap election may not be far away.

The Wales Green Party calls on the Welsh Government to make clear their stance on Irish women forced to come to Wales for a safe abortion, and to confirm that they are expecting extra funding for this purpose.

They are asking the Welsh Government for a strong and clear statement that abortions will be free for women from Northern Ireland under NHS Wales.

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Deputy Leader said, “It has long been a concern of Wales Green Party that our sisters just a few miles across the water have been subject to the DUP hardline attitude towards women. Sadly this continues to be the case, and although we welcome the agreement which allows women and girls from Northern Ireland to have free abortions under NHS England, there remains the unaddressed issue of travel costs. Such costs will be insurmountable for many, and will increase the emotional hardship and physical risks for those without the means to pay. Every woman should have the right to a safe and professional choice. Some will still not have this.

“Let’s be clear. This is nothing to do with the rights of women to choose. This is about House of Commons arithmetic and the propping up of a lame duck Conservative Government.

“Theresa May has given in to the DUP again and again in her desperation for votes at Westminster. Irish women and girls should not have to travel to the UK for safe abortion procedures. It is for the Government of Northern Ireland to make changes to their own legislation. In expecting their own people to bypass NI laws and come to the UK for an abortion, their hypocrisy is blatantly evident. ‘You can do it there, but not here,’ is the cowardly two-faced message. How much more hypocrisy can we expect?”

Statements thus far from the Welsh Government are vague. The Welsh Greens believe it would be morally wrong for NHS Wales to turn vulnerable women away.

Abortions are only allowed in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health. Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which they can be performed legally.

The Wales Green Party calls on the Welsh Government to make clear their stance on Irish women forced to come to Wales for a safe abortion, and to confirm that they are expecting extra funding for this purpose.

They are asking the Welsh Government for a strong and clear statement that abortions will be free for women from Northern Ireland under NHS Wales.

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Deputy Leader said, “It has long been a concern of Wales Green Party that our sisters just a few miles across the water have been subject to the DUP hardline attitude towards women. Sadly this continues to be the case, and although we welcome the agreement which allows women and girls from Northern Ireland to have free abortions under NHS England, there remains the unaddressed issue of travel costs. Such costs will be insurmountable for many, and will increase the emotional hardship and physical risks for those without the means to pay. Every woman should have the right to a safe and professional choice. Some will still not have this.

“Let’s be clear. This is nothing to do with the rights of women to choose. This is about House of Commons arithmetic and the propping up of a lame duck Conservative Government.

“Theresa May has given in to the DUP again and again in her desperation for votes at Westminster. Irish women and girls should not have to travel to the UK for safe abortion procedures. It is for the Government of Northern Ireland to make changes to their own legislation. In expecting their own people to bypass NI laws and come to the UK for an abortion, their hypocrisy is blatantly evident. ‘You can do it there, but not here,’ is the cowardly two-faced message. How much more hypocrisy can we expect?”

Statements thus far from the Welsh Government are vague. The Welsh Greens believe it would be morally wrong for NHS Wales to turn vulnerable women away.

Abortions are only allowed in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health. Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which they can be performed legally.

Wales Green Party’s Policy Development Coordinator, Christopher Evans, is undertaking a charity trek starting 13^th July for two Autism charities in Wales.

Christopher Evans, who stood as a parliamentary candidate for Wales Green Party in June’s snap election and works as a service advisor in the library at Swansea University, will take just over two weeks to walk from Chepstow to St Davids. He is hoping to finish the walk on 27^th July.

On the way, Chris will stop in Newport, Penarth, St Donats, Margam, Mumbles, Rhossili, Bynea, Ferryside, St Clears, Tenby, Freshwater West, Neyland, Martin’s Haven and Solva. He plans to walk approximately 40 kilometers each day, carry a full pack along the way including camping equipment.

Chris said: “Autism is a developmental disorder which affects an increasing number of children in Wales. Extra funding is needed to ensure that children and adults with the condition receive all the help and support they can get. The current system is letting down many families and individuals who are unable to get the help they so desperately need.

“Cash constraints on LEAs make it difficult for families to get the funding they require for extra support to ensure that children get all the help they need to flourish to the best of their abilities. Adults are being left vulnerable to cuts in funding forced on local councils’ social services departments by the current Government’s unacceptable austerity programmes. The WAG needs to do more for the families where one of the members is autistic and listen to their concerns when drafting legislation.

“We also need much more education for everyone to understand the condition better, as we still get comments such as “she doesn’t look autistic” or “rainman”. My daughter who was diagnosed last year has benefited from play schemes and days out run by the Swansea Chinese Support Group. The National Autistic Society do fantastic work raising the profile of autism and help individuals and families every day.

“I hope this walk will help to raise funds for services to continue and also to raise awareness of the condition so people understand autism better, and adapt their own behaviours to make the lives of autistic people a little easier on a day to day basis.”

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party deputy leader, said: “I take my hat off to Chris to be completing the hiking challenge to raise the profile of autism in Wales. The recent news that the Welsh Government is pledging an extra £7m on a national autism service is great. We also need to ensure that diagnosing autism does not take an unnecessarily long time so that families impacted don’t come under needless stress not knowing what the issue that they are facing might be. This can create tremendous stress to everyone affected.”

Chris is completing the challenge for The National Autistic Society and the Swansea Special Needs Chinese Parent Support Group. His Just Giving page for the NAS can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-evans55. A local giving one for the Swansea charity can be found here: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/swanseachinesecoopcentre/.

Chris invites locals to walk with him along the way. He said: “Anyone is welcome to join me for a day walking along the way, particularly if you know the local history or nature. I am looking forward to some interesting discussions along the way.”

Wales Green Party’s Policy Development Coordinator, Christopher Evans, is undertaking a charity trek starting 13^th July for two Autism charities in Wales.

Christopher Evans, who stood as a parliamentary candidate for Wales Green Party in June’s snap election and works as a service advisor in the library at Swansea University, will take just over two weeks to walk from Chepstow to St Davids. He is hoping to finish the walk on 27^th July.

On the way, Chris will stop in Newport, Penarth, St Donats, Margam, Mumbles, Rhossili, Bynea, Ferryside, St Clears, Tenby, Freshwater West, Neyland, Martin’s Haven and Solva. He plans to walk approximately 40 kilometers each day, carry a full pack along the way including camping equipment.

Chris said: “Autism is a developmental disorder which affects an increasing number of children in Wales. Extra funding is needed to ensure that children and adults with the condition receive all the help and support they can get. The current system is letting down many families and individuals who are unable to get the help they so desperately need.

“Cash constraints on LEAs make it difficult for families to get the funding they require for extra support to ensure that children get all the help they need to flourish to the best of their abilities. Adults are being left vulnerable to cuts in funding forced on local councils’ social services departments by the current Government’s unacceptable austerity programmes. The WAG needs to do more for the families where one of the members is autistic and listen to their concerns when drafting legislation.

“We also need much more education for everyone to understand the condition better, as we still get comments such as “she doesn’t look autistic” or “rainman”. My daughter who was diagnosed last year has benefited from play schemes and days out run by the Swansea Chinese Support Group. The National Autistic Society do fantastic work raising the profile of autism and help individuals and families every day.

“I hope this walk will help to raise funds for services to continue and also to raise awareness of the condition so people understand autism better, and adapt their own behaviours to make the lives of autistic people a little easier on a day to day basis.”

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party deputy leader, said: “I take my hat off to Chris to be completing the hiking challenge to raise the profile of autism in Wales. The recent news that the Welsh Government is pledging an extra £7m on a national autism service is great. We also need to ensure that diagnosing autism does not take an unnecessarily long time so that families impacted don’t come under needless stress not knowing what the issue that they are facing might be. This can create tremendous stress to everyone affected.”

Chris is completing the challenge for The National Autistic Society and the Swansea Special Needs Chinese Parent Support Group. His Just Giving page for the NAS can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-evans55. A local giving one for the Swansea charity can be found here: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/swanseachinesecoopcentre/.

Chris invites locals to walk with him along the way. He said: “Anyone is welcome to join me for a day walking along the way, particularly if you know the local history or nature. I am looking forward to some interesting discussions along the way.”

Wales Green Party leader, Grenville Ham, and Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Wednesday. The Green Party Leaders are concerned that “unacceptable dithering” is putting the planned Swansea tidal lagoon project in jeopardy.

 Grenville Ham said:

“This UK Government is holding Wales back.

"The Swansea tidal lagoon should be the corner stone for a new Welsh economy - spiraling out we could see new businesses, skilled jobs and 21^st century innovation. But the Conservative Party is dithering on whether to support this excellent economic opportunity for Wales. 

We know that renewable energy is going to be one of the main areas of global economic growth over the next 50 years. We know Green Tech is the next industrial revolution and that the Tidal Lagoon can provide the blueprint for Welsh technology being exported to the world for the next 100 years.

But the UK government is instead supporting technologies that should be consigned to the dustbin of history and are tearing up almost all support for clean energy. We have seen investment in British renewable energy fall off a cliff with a 95% decline in 2 years.  

The rest of the world are surging ahead and investing in this next industrial revolution - creating skilled jobs and driving down their carbon emissions – but Wales is being left behind.

It’s hugely frustrating to see this failure to give the Tidal Lagoon the go ahead and to jumpstart the new Welsh economy. It’s the only logical decision according to the Hendry Review.”

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and Grenville Ham, leader of the Green Party of Wales, wrote to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Wednesday to raise concerns over the delay and demand a date the government will respond to the Hendry review and make a final decision. The lagoon’s investors have put further funding on hold [1] as the government is yet to approve or even respond to the review by former minister Charles Hendry, which was published over six months ago [2].

Notes:

1. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/money-drying-up-swansea-tidal-13306328
2. https://wales.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/01/12/wales-green-party-welcomes-positive-findings-of-hendry-review-on-swansea-lagoon/
3. Full text of the letter:
   
    
   
   Dear Rt. Hon Greg Clark MP
   
    
   
   We have been extremely concerned by this week’s reports that investors might withdraw from the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project if it is not shortly approved by Government.
   
    
   
   As Green Party leaders, we strongly support the transition to renewable power across the UK. Therefore, we are writing to urge you to give investors the clarity that they need.
   
    
   
   The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project would be an integral part of the energy revolution this country needs. The independent Hendry review commissioned by the UK government gave a glowing endorsement of the project, highlighting that the energy provided would be less expensive than offshore wind and significantly less expensive than nuclear.
   
    
   
   Beyond the lower costs of energy, the project would also create thousands of jobs, it would help to kick-start a new industry, and it would make a valuable contribution to our decarbonisation targets. In contrast to Hinkley, the tidal lagoon would also be on grid sooner, would be in operation for longer, and would carry significantly less environmental risk.
   
    
   
   The report - which unambiguously called for strong government backing of this project - was published over six months ago. Yet, not only has the government failed to act on its clear recommendations, it has not even published a response. This dithering has resulted in uncertainty over investment, putting this valuable project in jeopardy.
   
    
   
   Please will you now provide a firm date for your department’s formal response to the Hendry review and your decision on whether to support the project? In doing so, we hope that you will accept the findings of the Hendry review and accept the wishes of the Welsh Government by approving this project.
   
    
   
   Yours sincerely,
   
    
   
   Jonathan Bartley
   
   Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
   
    
   
   Grenville Ham

              Leader of the Wales Green Party

Wales Green Party leader, Grenville Ham, and Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Wednesday. The Green Party Leaders are concerned that “unacceptable dithering” is putting the planned Swansea tidal lagoon project in jeopardy.

 Grenville Ham said:

“This UK Government is holding Wales back.

"The Swansea tidal lagoon should be the corner stone for a new Welsh economy - spiraling out we could see new businesses, skilled jobs and 21^st century innovation. But the Conservative Party is dithering on whether to support this excellent economic opportunity for Wales. 

We know that renewable energy is going to be one of the main areas of global economic growth over the next 50 years. We know Green Tech is the next industrial revolution and that the Tidal Lagoon can provide the blueprint for Welsh technology being exported to the world for the next 100 years.

But the UK government is instead supporting technologies that should be consigned to the dustbin of history and are tearing up almost all support for clean energy. We have seen investment in British renewable energy fall off a cliff with a 95% decline in 2 years.  

The rest of the world are surging ahead and investing in this next industrial revolution - creating skilled jobs and driving down their carbon emissions – but Wales is being left behind.

It’s hugely frustrating to see this failure to give the Tidal Lagoon the go ahead and to jumpstart the new Welsh economy. It’s the only logical decision according to the Hendry Review.”

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and Grenville Ham, leader of the Green Party of Wales, wrote to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Wednesday to raise concerns over the delay and demand a date the government will respond to the Hendry review and make a final decision. The lagoon’s investors have put further funding on hold [1] as the government is yet to approve or even respond to the review by former minister Charles Hendry, which was published over six months ago [2].

Notes:

1. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/money-drying-up-swansea-tidal-13306328
2. https://wales.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/01/12/wales-green-party-welcomes-positive-findings-of-hendry-review-on-swansea-lagoon/
3. Full text of the letter:
   
    
   
   Dear Rt. Hon Greg Clark MP
   
    
   
   We have been extremely concerned by this week’s reports that investors might withdraw from the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project if it is not shortly approved by Government.
   
    
   
   As Green Party leaders, we strongly support the transition to renewable power across the UK. Therefore, we are writing to urge you to give investors the clarity that they need.
   
    
   
   The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project would be an integral part of the energy revolution this country needs. The independent Hendry review commissioned by the UK government gave a glowing endorsement of the project, highlighting that the energy provided would be less expensive than offshore wind and significantly less expensive than nuclear.
   
    
   
   Beyond the lower costs of energy, the project would also create thousands of jobs, it would help to kick-start a new industry, and it would make a valuable contribution to our decarbonisation targets. In contrast to Hinkley, the tidal lagoon would also be on grid sooner, would be in operation for longer, and would carry significantly less environmental risk.
   
    
   
   The report - which unambiguously called for strong government backing of this project - was published over six months ago. Yet, not only has the government failed to act on its clear recommendations, it has not even published a response. This dithering has resulted in uncertainty over investment, putting this valuable project in jeopardy.
   
    
   
   Please will you now provide a firm date for your department’s formal response to the Hendry review and your decision on whether to support the project? In doing so, we hope that you will accept the findings of the Hendry review and accept the wishes of the Welsh Government by approving this project.
   
    
   
   Yours sincerely,
   
    
   
   Jonathan Bartley
   
   Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
   
    
   
   Grenville Ham

              Leader of the Wales Green Party

The UK Government has decided not to go ahead with the electrification of the rail tracks between Cardiff and Swansea.

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Deputy Leader has denounced the decision. “If the aim of the UK government is to confine Wales to the hardships and pollution of the past, then they are going the right way about it.

”It is common knowledge that Wales can create more than twice the renewable energy it can use, and that energy can sensibly be used to power – among many things – a rail system. Money is being wasted on more expensive rolling stock as trains will have to switch from electric to diesel for the journey beyond Cardiff. Put another way, the clean engines will go from London to Cardiff, the dirty diesel will be forced on the Cardiff to Swansea leg.”

Funding for the Cardiff to Swansea mainline was secured in 2012 by the David Cameron government to support workers and businesses, and to deliver cleaner transport.

Pippa Bartolotti added,” This should be a vital investment for the future of Wales. Breakthroughs in battery storage are bringing the very real promise of an all electric future. If politics doesn’t get in the way, clean energy will be the ongoing livelihood for tens of thousands in Wales.

“Theresa May’s government is a threat to our economy, people’s jobs and their health. We need the Welsh Government to stand up for our future and lobby hard for this decision to be overturned.”

Scrapping diesel is not the end of the problem.

Michael Gove has announced today that diesel vehicles will be banned from 2040.

Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Deputy leader said, “ Gove is just spouting the lines of his brief, and shows no imagination for coping with the wider implications of pollution in a car-bound society. The current road-building programme, such as the proposed M4 across the Gwent levels, will bring even more cars onto the roads, cancelling out the benefits of what is being proposed. Westminster has also cancelled electrification of the remaining railways, forcing Wales into a dirty fuel future, when in fact with our access to abundant renewable energy we could be one of the cleanest countries in the world."

Norway, Netherlands, and France have already adopted electric road vehicles, and crucially they have invested in a decent re-charging network.

Bartolotti added, “Gove has missed the chance to talk about a new green industrial revolution, investment in energy storage and infrastructure. This was the time to talk about reducing the need for road travel, localisation of supply chains and upgrading the public transport network. We need clean air zones in our urban centres and measures to help us all switch to clean public transport and walking and cycling for our everyday journeys.

Grenville Ham, Wales Green Party Leader said. “The green industrial revolution could happen inside or outside Single Market. The whole issue is proof that, contrary to Tory ideologues, big matters cannot be left to the market. Gove’s recent moves expose how shallow Labour is on the really big issues such as a clean energy future. There is clear green water between the Green Party and the rest of politics, massive subsidies to fossil fuel companies are continuing at the expense of our health and our productivity.

“Fixing the problem of polluted air in our towns and cities needs much more than the promise of a ban by 2040, by which time hundreds of thousands of people will have died from causes related to polluted air. We face inter-related problems of pollution, inactivity related obesity, and public health funding crises. This needs the imagination to see beyond car use as the main way to travel.

“We know diesel and petrol are poisoning our air but switching to electric cars is just not going to make the difference needed to clean up our air and let people trust the air we breathe. We will still be left with street-clogging congestion, lethal pm2.5 particle pollution and the misery of road danger.

“The govt should be investing in rail electrification, electric buses and networks of routes for walking and cycling. The important thing is not diesel scrappage for individuals but providing affordable access to work, education, health care and shops. If the government had any imagination they would see the unmitigated disaster of air pollution as an opportunity to rid our towns cities and villages of the problems of congestion, parking and noise while improving people's health and cutting NHS costs. “

Liam Fox, the secretary of state for international trade, is currently trying to establish a basis for a trade deal with the US. Wales Green Party deputy leader, Pippa Bartolotti, condemns any attempt to dilute existing regulation post-Brexit, especially when it comes to food safety and animal welfare.

In her blog, Bartolotti writes: “The US have for years condoned poor animal welfare standards, GM crops and ridiculous amounts of heavily subsidised corn syrup in almost everything Americans eat. More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults in America are considered to be overweight or obese.

“The US Department of Agriculture are spending more than $1.28 billion annually to subsidize the crops that are used as additives in manufacturing cakes, biscuits, confectionary, fizzy drinks and other highly popular junk food that are arguably the primary contributors to childhood obesity.

“Horrifyingly, the USDA refers to fresh fruits and vegetables as “specialty crops.” Specialty crops do not receive subsidies. In fact, farmers who participate in agricultural subsidy programs are generally prohibited from growing fruits and vegetables on the so-called “base acres” of land for which they receive subsidies.

“Is this the society we want to trade with? Worse, is this the mentality we are going to adopt in order to make trade with the US palatable to our own citizens?

“It all comes down to price rather than cost. Bad animal welfare is cheaper than good, but who knows what does not get washed out with the chlorine. The increasingly marginalised poor of our own country will not have the choice. They have to buy cheap, yet the cost to human health will be astronomical. The cost to the environment in terms of transport pollution is also high. America is a long way away.

“And what of our own farmers, who voted for Brexit. Increasing competition from a bad trading partner will force them to lower our current standards of welfare. Trust in food will be diminished, ‘the market’ will force them to either stoop to the lowest common denominator, or go out of business.

“The US has long pushed a general dilution of health and environment regulation, with hormone-treated beef and poultry processed with chlorine both currently banned under EU regulation. Food industry lobbyists in the US have also resisted products processed with chemicals from being clearly labelled.”

Full blog can be found here: http://pippabartolotti.greenparty.wales/2017/07/26/fox-turning-chicken-poor-animal-welfare-coming-to-a-supermarket-near-you/

Benjamin Smith, 19, has been co-opted by the Wales Green Party Council to fill the second Deputy Spokesperson role in the leadership team, which became available when Grenville Ham stepped up to take over as the leader of the party after Alice Hooker-Stroud stood down back in March.

Benjamin was born in York in 1997 to a liberal Vicar and nurse. His family later moved to Plymouth and that's where he was raised and where he became active within the Green Party. 

He moved to Wales to study Stage Management and technical theatre at the Royal Welsh Collage of Music and Drama and has just finished his second year of study. 

Benjamin will be the youngest Deputy leader of a political party in Wales and the only one to be a current full-time student. 

He will be deputy spokesperson until the Wales Green Party Leadership election in 2018. 

The Wales Green Party is pleased to hear that the Welsh government is relaxing the ban on men who have sex with men donating blood, from 12 to 3 months.

However, a lot more needs to be done. The fact who a person has sex with is still determining whether they can donate blood or not, is appalling in modern Wales. While this is a step in the right direction, we need to aim for full equality.

Previous Welsh Green Pride spokespeople; Andrew Creak and Adam Smith spearheaded the campaign on this issue which resulted in this reduced ban. The campaign included an online petition that Adam Smith and Pippa Bartolotti, Deputy Leader of the Welsh Green Party, handed into the Senedd almost two years ago.

Andrew Creak, Co-chair of Wales Young Greens and previous Welsh Green Pride Spokesperson said "We are happy with the result of our blood ban campaign that started two years ago, however we still do not have equality, but we are happy to see a step in the right direction and hopefully one day sexually active gay people like myself will be able to donate our healthy and clean blood"

Ash Jones, the current Spokesperson of Welsh Green Pride has said "I am proud of the work that we at Welsh Green Pride have achieved in this campaign. This is a victory for all men who have sex with men, and we have pushed Wales one step closer to equality for all."

We in the Wales Green Party are all happy to see this step towards equality, we look forward to seeing it realised fully in the future.

The Westminster government has threatened to put bids for the Wales and Borders franchise on hold amid a dispute with the Welsh Government over who gets the cash for rail improvements. 

Population is increasing, and the vast majority of people will gravitate to cities – which will become larger, more congested, and more crowded. The planning of our cities is of paramount importance if we are to enable the prosperity of our citizens, and of course plan for their happiness.

Pippa Bartolotti , Deputy leader of Wales Green Party said: “The current rate of urbanization will lead to more traffic, more pollution, and more frustration if we do not plan to relieve these symptoms of growth. A Green economy in a crowded city needs to be planned carefully in terms of infrastructure, transport networks and technical connectivity just as much as a dirty economy. Even if we all bought electric or hydrogen powered cars, it is only a matter of simple maths to see that cars make no sense in an urban environment. Mass movement of people requires adequate, fast and affordable mass transit networks.

“Who controls where we live, how we travel, where we work? In Wales it should be the Welsh Government. But it isn’t. It’s Westminster, and Westminster doesn’t care if Wales is a congested backwater or not. That is why they insist on pulling the strings of investment and compel Wales to dance to the tune of a vassal state. Matters of future prosperity and well-being in Wales should not be left to the Westminster government - who are mostly concerned with London which, by the way, has excellent public transport networks and world class broadband connectivity.”

The recent debacle over rail franchises, and the money to improve the rail network, is evidence that the Welsh Government is playing with one hand tied behind their back. In 2018 Wales will have total responsibility for rail franchises, and it is entirely reasonable that Wales should receive the money direct from these franchises in order to improve the network.

At stake is more than a faster, cleaner, less crowded version of what we already have. At stake is the entire SE Wales Metro which, if planned properly will relieve the congestion in Newport and Cardiff, liberate the Gwent Valleys, and get us all to work and back without the stress of having to sit in endless traffic.

Pippa Bartolotti added, “It is unfathomable to me that the funding of the Metro is tied up with rail franchises concerned with replacing the services we currently have. They are separate issues, and need to be negotiated separately. Of course the franchises coming up for renewal should revert to public ownership, but frankly I don’t think the WG is up to managing it.

“There is money in the system and it needs to be put to work. We need to support our workplaces and our people. The underlying structure of our society needs to be properly supported with excellent mass transit systems. It's essential that the WG has plenty of time to negotiate the next tranche of trains, and that means the franchises should be fit for the future, not the horrendous deal done 15 years ago with Arriva which sees passengers in cramped and crowded conditions for hours.Without an adequate, sustainable (and obviously clean) transport system in place, growth will be chaotic.”

NDS