Haringey Green Party’s local election campaign has received a significant boost with the news that recently elected national party Chair, Jayne Forbes, is to join Stroud Green ward candidates Anna Bragga and Sarah Cope forming an all-female slate.
The duo welcomed the news seeing the move as a natural progression for their increasingly high profile campaign and a sign of the growing strength of women in the party.
Sarah Cope said: "We are delighted to welcome Jayne Forbes on to our team. Jayne’s indepth knowledge and experience of the area combined with her passion for developing green policies will provide a tremendous boost to our campaign. People shouldn’t be surprised to see an all-female slate standing in Stroud Green. Women are attracted to the Green Party by its female-friendly policies. I myself have written our national policy on maternity care, which argues for a ‘one mother, one midwife’ approach and more provision for home births."
Anna Bragga said: "We want to reach out to women who feel their needs are not being met by the current male dominated Labour/Lib Dem council. Women are under-represented on the council – there are only 21 compared to 36 men – and that means women’s concerns often don’t receive the attention they deserve. Issues like affordable childcare; more accessible services for victims of domestic violence, which constitutes 30% of all violent crime in Haringey, and help for ethnic minority women who often miss out on services available due to cultural and language barriers. We hope to change that next May."
Jayne Forbes said: "I have intimate knowledge of Stroud Green and many of the issues concerning people, having lived in the area for 25 years. I know that many voters are thinking of voting Green this time as they are disenfranchised with the main parties andlooking for a fresh approach to politics."
Women still only make up a third of London’s councillors – 100 years after being allowed to stand. London Councils, which represent all of the capital’s boroughs, is campaigning to increase the number of women at town halls.