The Wales Green Party has just announced Katy Beddoe as their General Election candidate for Caerphilly.
The prospective Parliamentary Candidate said, ”I have put myself forward to stand in this election because all young people need to have a future to look forward to. We have created generations that have no hope, who feel marginalised from our society, who have no confidence that things will change. As the UK is the 6th richest country in the world this is a disgrace. I stand for equality, social and ecological justice and democracy, I believe that 'ordinary' people deserve to be heard and to be represented; that is why I have decided to stand for the Green Party.'
Katy Beddoe grew up in the South Wales valleys as a lifelong Labour supporter. She become despondent about politics after Blair took the country to war in 2003, and only continued to tactically vote Labour to "keep the Tories out”.
“With inequality in our society growing, I hoped that Ed Miliband would bring socialism back to Labour. After 3 years of disappointment and the same old neo-liberal agenda with sprinkles of pseudo socialism I gave up. As a mother and a youth worker, I knew I had to look at the long term; tactical voting would only ever bring us different shades of Tories, and this country desperately needs radical change. I looked at the alternatives and found the Green Party policies to be exciting, common sense and that they reflected my own values.
“Every day I see young people horrifically affected by government austerity and the inequality in our society. Education and opportunities should be free and available for all regardless of your circumstances.
“The current issues with legal highs are another indication that we need a complete reform of our drugs legislation. Quite frankly our war on drugs is as effective as the war on terror.”
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader added, “ Katy is a champion for the rights of young people. She will be an outstanding candidate for Caerphilly where so many of our youth are troubled by lack of prospects in a society which has lost touch with the needs of tomorrow. Tomorrows jobs are in the industries of the future – good steady green jobs which bring energy security and hope for a future built on free education and freedom from debt.”
Katy Beddoe is a mother, youth worker poet left wing activist and grassroots campaigner involved in campaigns such as South Wales Against the Bedroom tax and CND. Wales Green Party membership has more than doubled since the Euro elections in May.