- a lack of transparency
- no democratic mandate from the people
- an almost sole focus on 'growth'
- a lack of practical focus on social issues
- a lack of focus on the climate change and environmental issues
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| Green Candidates |
Because its an opportunity to put all of these issues on the agenda for Greater Manchester.
The role of the Mayor should be a campaigning one for the
people.
In addition, 35% of constituencies in Greater Manchester are
amongst the most deprived in the North West. [2] (Deprived areas have strong indicators of poverty, poor health,
unemployment, poor or a lack of housing. [3] [4])
Manchester itself is stark in its levels of inequality.
Whilst there is great wealth [5], its high levels of homelessness [6] is plain
to see and it has some of the worst health in the country [7].
Although the Labour candidate for mayor [8] has a
respectable record as an MP, in Manchester he is the 'status quo' candidate. That is not good enough.
We should be doing something different.
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| BRT Rally |
Instead of accepting £300 million to build private
accommodation [9] is the end of the story, why don't we ask government for an additional £300
million to stimulate social housing construction all over Greater Manchester?
It would
- provide jobs and training
- provide lower cost housing for those in need
- support social landlords
- enable young people to get on the property ladder
- give a boost to ALL areas of region not just Manchester and Salford.
On
health
The situation is bordering on disastrous. To deal with some
of the worst health in the country
- we should renegotiate the deal with government to get back the estimated £2 billion budget shortfall [10]
- fight to be given a free hand to organise its health systems instead of implementing government plans [11] . It should be devolution not delegation.
- support the growth of the voluntary sector to provide additional support for health and social services
- 'hand back' health devolution if the additional help requested is not forthcoming
Whilst
health doesn't come directly under the Mayors remit, it such a huge issue, it MUST be on the Mayor's agenda.
On the
economy
Instead of just competing for 'cherry on the top' events like
Expo2025 [12], the region should also be fighting to bring in Green industry, providing
long-term work as part of a new Green Deal [13].
Greater Manchester is home of the industrial revolution,
and as such is also a parent to the beginnings of climate change [14]. As a
region we have a responsibility to effectively
fight climate change, to fight for a Greater Greener Manchester.
That is what I think.
So as a Greater Manchester Green Party member, I'm asking for your vote.
If you don’t already have a link to vote contact the Elections
Officer. [15].
Thanks.
Notes
- http://devolutionmanchester.max20.com/introducing-devolution/what-is-devolution/
- http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/areas-greater-manchester-named-among-11841499
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_deprivation_index
- https://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/news/gm-devolution-health-and-inequality-infographics
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Manchester#GDP
- http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/special-report-shock-rise-manchester-9363644
- http://healthierlives.phe.org.uk/topic/mortality/area-details#are/E08000003/par/E92000001/ati/102/pat/
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-37020186
- http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/300m-housing-fund-designed-unlock-9570783
- http://clahrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/2015/11/helping-to-understand-health-and-social-care-devolution-in-greater-manchester/
- https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/aug/07/manchester-hospital-reform-plan-failure
- http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/expo-2025-greater-manchester-ashton-11825036
- https://www.greenparty.org.uk/archive/news-archive/3493.html
- http://hulmegreenparty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-sense-of-history-and-responsibility.html
- Email: northwest.greenparty.ero@gmail.com
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