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Friday, 3 May 2013

Exclusive: Green party leader Natalie Bennett responds to the initial results in the local elections

The Green party leader Natalie Bennett has responded to the initial local results which has seen the first two Green party councillors elected to Essex County Council. Ms Bennett telling me that: "I'm delighted that we've elected our first county councillors on Essex County Council. Both James Abbott and Michael Hoy are district councillors who've proven themselves to be highly effective local representatives." 

Despite the Conservatives remaining in control in Essex Ms Bennett says that: "As a group, they'll be able to do a great deal to hold the still Tory-dominated council to account. I know from visits to both of their campaigns that James has particularly focused on councillors' spending - far too many junkets and chaffeur-driven cars - and campaigning for improved local rail services and road safety." Natalie Bennett when talking about new councilor Michael Hoy said: "Michael has been particularly effective in standing up for the residents of park homes, and also in work on defending the green belt.

The news is getting better this morning for the Green party, as their is news of gains on Warwickshire County Council is coming in including the defeat of the Conservative leader of Warwickshire. Natalie Bennett reacting to the news said: "News is also now coming in of two new Green seats in Warwickshire, in Nuneaton and Leamington Spa. I visited both of those towns only on Wednesday and saw how in Nuneaton Cllr Keith Kondakoris doing a great job in campaigning to protect and enhance the local market and small city shop - both absolutely essential to the local economy, but threatened by supermarket development."

Continuing to talk about the campaign in Warwickshire and the results Ms Bennett said: "In Leamington Spa I spoke to Matt Jenkins, our new county councillor, and city councillor Neil Laurenson, and heard about their strong work on road safety, as well as seeing some of Leamington's problems with traffic congestion for myself."