Tell us a bit about yourself:

“I’m Cambridge born and bred, I’m 26 now, so I’ve lived in Cambridge most of my life. I studied Film and Literature for my undergrad and then I went on to do my postgrad in Early Modern Literature at York and I really wanted to get into teaching. I have applied for a few PhD scholarships to do more early modern literature stuff but I never quite got a scholarship.

I’m on the City Council at the moment, I won in 2023 and I’m currently going for a County Council seat.”

How did you get involved in the Green Party?

“I got into SCN education, special educational needs, mostly specialising in autistic children and deaf children. My mum is deaf, and I found it very frustrating, the lack of support for children with special educational needs in school. So, I was like, ‘We gotta fix that’. I got involved in politics and thought ‘What political party?- ah the Greens, they’re pretty cool!’.

I joined the Greens as a kind of New Year’s resolution thing at the end of 2021. I went in with the kind of vision of me getting really, really involved. I don’t take many half-measures and I was like, ‘If I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it properly’.  

I got invited to do some leafletting and then I got invited to an action day.And from there I started coming out every week because I really enjoyed campaigning. Then I got asked if I’d be co-campaign manager in Abbey [Ward]. Eventually, I got so familiar with the seat, when one of the councillors couldn’t stand, I was asked if I’d consider standing and I’d only been in the party for about 6 months.

I was very active and very engaged at the time which put me in a good position to run. I think just having time and energy is an incredibly useful asset.

In Cambridge Greens, we’re kind of a tertiary group on the on the City Council where we’re kind of small, but we’re growing, and I’ve had a really good time fighting to make sure we grow because I honestly think we could run the City Council.

 I think demographically Cambridge is perfect. We don’t have any county councillors at the moment, I hope to be one of the first.”

How has your experience as a councillor been so far?

“I love being a councillor, I think it’s really really rewarding. I really appreciate the chance to give back to my community. The thing of being a councillor, it’s not a particularly romantic job…it’s dealing with standard issues that impact people day-to-day. But these issues make a massive difference in people’s lives, and it blows my mind that people recognise me all over the city. Now if I knock on a random door in my ward, most people know who I am. And to me, that’s absolutely crazy, I think that’s the best thing.

I think the biggest, I guess, challenge I have found is… explaining to the local party that creating the most foolproof amazing policy ever is not what wins elections. It’s mainly campaigning and it’s mainly building that sense of trust and report and I feel that’s something the Young Greens recognise. I’m the only young councillor [in Cambridge] and I’m taking a bit of a different approach.

For a councillor to be a champion for their community and to be someone that people trust to put the community’s interest first, it means so much. It’s genuinely touching. And I’ve had a couple of really good conversations on the door recently with people saying ‘You’re the only local politician who is actually focusing on the struggles that people are going through in Cambridge’, that’s the reputation that I want to build for the Greens. It’s about building a sense of trust with people and the Green Party brand; it’s about associating the Green brand with quality work.”

If elected in this election, what are your aims as a councillor?

“I think a lot of people’s goals change slightly when they get elected based on their understanding of the Council and their knowledge of the Council’s finances and the funding given by the national government. So I feel that I’m probably gonna end up being a lot more focused in the end, but some of the stuff I want to do immediately is on better school provision in my ward.

As I said, education is my background, it’s something I’d love to go back to one day. And there isn’t a secondary school in my ward, no secondary school at all. So, pushing forward, better school provision, more funding, more support for special educational needs students.

Also, social care. A lot of councils are falling short on their statutory duty for social care, and I believe Cambridge County Council is included in that, so to try and make sure we’re looking after residents, that’s important to me.

A lot of stuff to do with active travel is really important to me, particularly pedestrianism. I’m not much of a cyclist, I’m mainly a walker, and to make walkable trails so that people can get around.

Potholes are definitely the most important issue to every single person in Cambridge so fixing up the roads is a key one. I think everyone wants to do that and everyone falls short of that. But to at least act as more of a voice on these issues because I feel at the moment there is a lot of dishonesty with the state of our roads , so even if it’s something I can’t directly influence, being in a position where I can be an honest spokesperson for the community is also really important.”

Has here been a difference between standing to be a City and County Councillor?

“I think to me they’ve been very, very similar. County has surprisingly been slightly easier because the ward is slightly smaller. In most places that isn’t the case but my county division is smaller than the city ward. No one really understands the difference between a City Council and a County Council so I’m having the same conversations no matter what, basically.

Nothing has really changed, and I think thankfully some of the hot-button issues that people cared about a couple of years ago are no longer as relevant.”

How would you like to see the Green Party supporting young candidates?

“I think the Green Party has a bit of a diversity problem not just in terms of young candidates but also ethnic diversity, gender diversity, diversity of sexuality.

When you’re dealing with people, some of whom are like highly trained professionals, it’s really easy to get pushed into believing that your views can’t add any value to the discussion. I know it’s something the national party is cognizant of but I do think it needs to do more to support young candidates and help local parties cultivate a better environment for young people because older people tend to have more time on their hands and more time to do political stuff so that can lead to unfortunate things where young people get sidelined.”

What advice would you give to parties to increase youth involvement in the party?

“I feel so much more confident than I was 3 years ago, I’m a completely different person now…I can be more articulate, but it is a skill itself that you need to refine over time that requires practice. So I think the advice I would give, and I think the Young Greens do really good work on this with 30 under 30, is to improve people’s confidence, make sure they recognise that they have a valuable perspective to add because that makes the party stronger as a whole. It also means you can talk and address a more diverse array of issues.

We are seeing a real big push amongst younger members to reform the local party at the moment, so I think the key thing is allowing there to be spaces for young people to talk and communicate.”

How do you think this year’s local elections will influence the Green Party and the Young Greens going forward?

“I think a lot of people would probably focus on results and net-gaining councillors. Some stuff I would like to see, and I think a lot of Young Greens have been this way, is for the party to get a bit more sharp with its messaging. I have found talking to a lot of Reform voters, as many people have, that these people are just looking for some change and will go to whatever is presented with them. And I do think honestly the Green Party could take a lot of that attention from Reform.

So I would really like it if we could strengthen our messaging, perhaps lay a bit of groundwork for some future general election campaigns, and put up a good fight against Reform, that’s what I’d like to see from this local election.”

Is there anything else you would like to add?

“I think the Young Greens do a really good job of empowering people. I think there just needs to be a bit more of a bridge between the national party and what young people are doing.  I think the Young Greens are really on it with a whole bunch of stuff they do such as social media; we have so many really good candidates who are some of the best speakers in the party.”

If you have any questions for Elliot or want to find out more about his role as Councillor, you can contact him via: [email protected]

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

We’re working hard to get more Greens elected. Join us, and let’s make it happen.

The post “Being In a Position Where I Can Be An Honest Spokesperson for The Community is Really Important” An Interview with Councillor Elliot Tong appeared first on Young Greens.

We speak to Lance Symonds, a young green, and general election candidate about his experiences standing in North Cornwall.

Tell us a little bit about yourself ?

“My name is Lance Symonds; I’m 20 years old, currently studying for a law degree at Chichester University, and I stood in the constituency of North Cornwall during the general election in July of this year.

I have lived in Cornwall, particularly the town of Bude, aside from my time at university, all of my life. I’ve been involved in a lot of LGBTQ+ activist work in my teenage years, and I have also coordinated and had other committee executive roles in Cornwall Green Party.”

What was your favourite experience of standing in the general election, and what was the most challenging?

“The greatest experience I had, apart from the whole experience itself, which was a complete honour to do and I’m very, very happy I did, was the hustings. Both on BBC radio, which was put on BBC i player for their Your Voice, Your Vote, and also in person hustings in Launceston. Both of these I enjoyed significantly and only received positive feedback.

In terms of the biggest challenge, I would have to say the anxiety of how unpredictable it all was. We had all sorts of opinion polls and predictions, either nationally or in specific seats, where the results varied so significantly, and the difference in the number of vote share predictions meant that I had no idea what was going to happen; that all just made me really nervous.”

What kind of preparation was necessary for your hustings?

“The two hustings I did were very different experiences. One of them being recorded on TV, there was a lot more preparation in terms of letting us know what was going on more specifically. This hustings was a lot more limited time-wise and also had all six candidates present. However, during the hustings held in person in Launceston, the Conservatives and Labour didn’t attend, which meant the rest of the candidates had more time. They actually took in live audience questions, and it wasn’t recorded, so the majority of the setup was less formal and consisted of giving us mics and figuring out where we were sitting.”

How did you find the process of becoming a general election candidate, and did you feel supported in this experience?

“That’s actually an incredibly long story! I originally joined the Green Party because I wanted a left-wing party that was united in its views. Other parties, it seems, are constantly fighting about what they actually believe in; meanwhile, there’s a sense of identity here. I joined the Green Party as a member in 2020 and later came into contact with someone who worked in the local party, and they mentioned the vacancy in the general election seats. At the time, I was around 16 or 17, which obviously is a big decision to make, but I was already so mentally prepared and really wanted to just take it on right then and there. So the year after, I made it clear that I would run as a candidate.

Eventually, I got selected to be the North Cornwall general election candidate at the age of 18. I want to thank the people in the local party for all their advice and support, such as filling out the forms and paperwork, preparing me for debates and hustings, making sure that my public speaking was on point, and all the mental support that was given.”

Is there anything you would have differently, or would change if you were to stand again?

“I have actually already stated that I will be standing again in the same seat in 2029.

I believe my constituents deserve that from me; they deserve someone to represent them. Cornwall has been a very ignored region of the United Kingdom, and we’ve been side-lined on a lot of issues and had our budgets cut because they’ve decided to make this different national plan for us. We need the proper representation to speak up for us so that we can actually solve the major issues that we have down here as residents. So I want to deliver that, and I really would love to do that again.

As for things I would do differently,  I would definitely work on getting more people involved in terms of door-knocking and canvassing. Being able to give it more effort and resources than I did this year, I would love to do so much more next time.”

Why do the Green Party and its policies need to be represented in your constituency?

I think there’s something local to be said about what linked the Green Party to me and the Cornish people.

It’s very hard to afford housing right now because of the number of second homes and holiday homes that take up the space, meaning we have fewer houses available, which means they become more expensive, and rents have been increasing like crazy. The water sewage is also ridiculous because we pride ourselves on having really clean and beautiful seasoned beaches, only for these water companies to be dumping tons of sewage in them, with five of our six previous Cornish MPs all essentially voting to allow this.”

What do you want to see from our 4 MPs, particularly for young people?

“I think that what they are currently doing is speaking out against the government and holding them accountable, which is exactly what they had promised to do in the run up to the election. It was exactly how we said we were going to make changes in the country for constituents and for the United Kingdom as a whole. I personally would love to see and hope that the voting age is lowered to 16 as well as a voting system change. I’m glad to know that the national service plan isn’t going to be happening because that was….interesting.”

I also want to see it become easier to figure out living in general because, once I finish university, trying to figure out where I’m going to live is a scary thought. There’s no way I would be able to get a mortgage, so I would have to rent. And if there’s not enough rent controls on landlords, I’m going to be in serious trouble affording a lot of things.”

What would you say to young people thinking about standing in the next general or local election, or looking to get involved in green politics more generally?

“I think that a large part of it is getting those who are very passionate to stand in those areas. There’s also a lot of refinement in your technique and what your role is during the campaigning process. Working on and practicing this is vital. When I had decided to stand, I knew for a fact that I had to work on making sure I remained composed in debates and stayed on target to get my actual point across while still being able to deliver a form of charisma when talking to constituents about what they needed to hear.

So an important part is making sure that you’re always practising. You’re always training towards making sure you can give the best you can to your constituents.

A lot of us that are standing, it’s not always just because of the view that ‘politics is fun’ and we’re really interested in it. I’m sure for a lot of us that’s true, it’s true for me, but some of us are doing this because we feel like we have to and that we’re running out of time. So we’ve got to make sure that we are giving it the best effort we can.”

If you have any further questions for Lance, you can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085350531941

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales. We’re working hard on getting more Greens elected. If you haven’t already, join us, and let’s make it happen.

The post “It’s a big decision to make but I wanted to take it on right then and there”: An interview with general election candidate Lance Symonds.  appeared first on Young Greens.

We speak to Young Green Izzy Metcalf- Riener, a Lancaster university student who, after running in the Lancaster council elections last year, is now standing as the Green candidate in the Castle ward by-election. 

How did you get involved with the Green party and how has your role within it developed?

 The Green Party has always been my political home and I regularly delivered Green newsletters growing up. I became increasingly politically aware and engaged during the 2015 general election and I started to properly read about Green Party policies which solidified for me that the Green Party was definitely the political party that best reflected my values.  I joined the Lancaster Young Greens Society in my final year of University.

It was great to connect with such like-minded young people and through this I got involved with North Lancashire Green Party. Standing in the 2023 Lancaster City Council elections for the University ward, alongside Tom Fish, was a pivotal moment and turning point in terms of my involvement with the party and I learnt a lot through being a target candidate. Since then, I have joined the Young Greens executive committee as Women’s Officer, the North Lancashire Green Party executive committee as Internal Comms Coordinator and I help coordinate the Lancaster Young Greens Society.

  Why are you running in the Castle ward the by election and what are your aims for Castle ward and the city of Lancaster if elected?

I am running in the Castle Ward by-election to hopefully join Green Councillors Paul Stubbins and Dave Brookes and continue their year-round hard work for residents.  As a resident of Castle Ward myself, I am deeply invested in helping our area, city, and community thrive. I am already actively involved in the local area and have organised community litter picks, and I am committed to furthering these efforts alongside Paul and Dave as part of a strong Castle Ward Green team.

My aims for Castle Ward encompass several key priorities. Firstly, I am passionate about improving green spaces within the town centre, including the creation of ‘pocket parks’, to enhance biodiversity and community well-being. Addressing issues of traffic congestion and air pollution is equally crucial, especially improving accessibility to sustainable modes of transport through influencing County Council decisions. Additionally, I am dedicated to advancing plans for high-density, sustainable and affordable housing in the town centre.

As a young woman, I am acutely aware of the importance of diverse voices in politics. I recognise the importance of representing the varied needs of our diverse community and will ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and valued in decision-making about local public services. 

 Reflecting on your campaign last year, what have you’ve learned about standing for election?

It’s hard to generalise my experience of the campaign last year as the University is such a unique ward. I think it might be the only 100% student ward in the country so the strategies we used to engage voters don’t necessarily apply to a wider audience. For example, the use of social media isn’t currently very widespread in election campaigning.

My current by-election campaign has therefore felt quite different. I think the biggest thing I learned during my campaign last year is that being a candidate can be a lot of fun and it doesn’t always have to feel so serious. I think standing in such a unique ward allowed me to strip back the more conventionally ‘serious’ campaigning and focus on the fundamentals. A lot of attention is rightly put on policy and literature, but a large part of a candidate’s role is getting to know residents and making that emotional connection, which is also often the most rewarding part. This is something I’m trying to prioritise in my by-election campaign – just getting out there and connecting with residents!

What’s been your proudest Green Party moment so far?

My proudest Green Party moment so far has got to be the Greens’ success in the 2023 Lancaster City Council election. Being at the election count to celebrate getting 21 Green councillors elected was a truly unforgettable experience. I was particularly proud that we got 3 Young Green councillors elected in Lancaster, more than anywhere else in the country I believe. And although I did not get elected, seeing Tom Fish, who I ran alongside in the University ward, get elected was incredibly rewarding. It was a massive testament to all the hard work and dedication we both put into the campaign and I couldn’t have been prouder of the positive outcome we achieved.

Why do you think Lancaster Greens, and Lancaster Young Greens in particular, are achieving these results, and what would you like to see North Lancashire Green Party achieve in the future?

Firstly, Lancaster has such a strong Green history,  Green councillors have served on Lancaster City Council since 1999. This strong foundation has played a significant role when expanding into new wards and areas, as residents are familiar with the great work we’ve done for the city. So a lot of credit must be given to the hard work of all our current and former councillors, which has built momentum over the years. The brilliant leadership of the council by Green Councillor Caroline Jackson from 2021 to 2023 is also part of this,  and the regular dissemination of Green View newsletters throughout the area has helped keep residents informed and engaged.

Regarding the 2023 local elections, the efforts of Jamie Payne, our Campaign Organiser, were instrumental in our success. That’s why we’re currently fundraising to hire a permanent Campaign Organiser to support upcoming elections, including the general election this year and County Council election next year. Our 50×50 fundraising campaign, which is encouraging 50 individuals to donate £50 per month, is pivotal in achieving this goal.

In terms of engaging young people, credit must go to everyone involved in re-activating and running Lancaster Young Greens Society, which has been really successful in fostering involvement and uplifting and supporting young people to be more active. More broadly, the legacy of youth climate activism in Lancaster, evolving out of the school strikes movement and leading to successfully pressuring the City Council to declare a climate emergency in 2019, empowered many young people who are now actively involved in the party. The local party’s receptiveness and encouragement of young people getting involved and standing has also been crucial.

Looking towards the future, I hope our Green success continues over the next few years. Jack Lenox is our absolutely amazing MP candidate and we’ve also already got a great team of County Council candidates selected ahead of the election next year where we aim to secure a strong presence at the County level. So watch this space!

 What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to young people thinking of standing in elections?

Just go for it! I think it’s far too easy to be put off standing for election, but just because most politicians don’t look like you, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be one – in fact, it’s all the more reason to do it!  We desperately need better representation within politics and as they say, “be the change you wish to see”.

I never thought I was the kind of person who could run for election and here I am running for the second time! If I had listened to all the self-doubt and continued to overthink every reason why I couldn’t do it, I would have never realised just how much I’m capable of. So, my advice would be, believe in yourself (which I know is easier said than done) and surround yourself with people who can help and support you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it as election campaigns are a lot of work and you’ll need a strong team behind you.

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

The post “The Green Party has always been my political home”: An interview with Green candidate Izzy Metcalf-Riener appeared first on Young Greens.

But I wasn’t active in that sense, and I felt quite disenfranchised from the Labour party and I realised that the Green Party is the only party at the moment that is offering that progressive vision. They are the only party that are offering this positive vision and are not just acknowledging that things are getting worse, but they want to fight to try and make things better. 

I joined the Green Party at the beginning of this year and I joined with the expectation that I would start by doing some volunteering, such as leafleting and door knocking. But because it is a very democratic party, they send out nominations for all the seats and this one came up for the Bishopston and Ashley Down seat and I just thought ‘why not just jump in at the deep end?’. I’ll put myself forward for the council position, and then I went through hustings, and here I am.”

You’re from Bristol yourself, but what is it that made you want to represent this particular ward in Bristol, what are your aims for the future, and what do you want to offer the people of Bristol during your time as a councillor?

“I’m from Bristol, I was born here. I grew up in Bishopston, so I grew up in the area that I’m representing. I’m very very fond of it and I do want to see it thrive. It’s a very nice area but it does also have some challenges, particularly around transport. It’s got two cricket grounds and a football ground, it has a population of about 10,000 people, and there’s no parking scheme of any kind, and very limited restriction on traffic which means there’s a lot of rat running in the area. And these may sound like minor issues but they do impact negatively on the area, so they are some things that I want to address. 

Speaking more generally of what I want to achieve, I want to push for a four-day working week trial at the council, and this is my little pet project over the next eight months, and hopefully, if I am re-elected in May. This is something that I really want to push for because the council employs about 6,500 people and that could make a really significant improvement to their lives.”

What advice would you give to young people who want to become active in the Green Party or see themselves in similar position to you, looking at running for their local council?

“I won’t beat around the bush, it’s not a walk in the park. The campaigning part in particular can take up a considerable amount of time and sacrifice. In terms of being a councillor, I’m still learning, and hopefully, as I progress over the next few months, I’ll be better able to listen to people’s concerns and help improve their lives. 

So overall, the advice I’d give to young people would be that it can be a leap of faith, but if you don’t put yourself forward, then someone else will. And you may not feel like you’re qualified or the right person for the job, but someone else will feel that they are and that political opponent will most likely not share your values or not want to improve the country in the way that you want to see, so if you don’t put yourself forward, your opponents will, so you just need to take the plunge.”

As we’ve seen recently, Rishi Sunak has been backtracking on climate pledges and delaying many targets regarding greenissues. Do you think that the politicisation of green issues is going to have an influence in future elections and political campaigns, and how do you think the Green Party can best respond to the Government’s actions?

“What is clear is that calls for taking action on climate change are now being heard, however, this doesn’t mean that we have won the argument. The Conservatives are increasingly climate sceptic as Rishi Sunak’s recent announcements have shown, and I have no faith that Labour will stick to their climate commitments, considering how often they have U-turned on policy in recent years. I did however find some comfort that polling indicated Sunak’s personal favourability dropped after these announcements. This shows that people are aware of it and they don’t want inaction on climate change. The problem now is the pace of change, and we need to keep up the pressure to ensure we hit our net zero targets.

We also know that net zero can be a great opportunity for a more equitable society, a more socially just society and a more economically just society, or it can be more of the same, only this time there are solar panels on your roof. We need to put forward a positive vision and that’s where the Green Party is a really good vehicle. And what I’m hoping is that when Carla Denyer is elected, she will be able to make that case, ideally alongside Sian Berry in Brighton Pavilion, and Adrian Ramsey and Ellie Chowns as well. 
And that’s my view on the national conversation, but we also need that Green pressure locally as well. Local governments have authority on a lot of transport planning, a lot of recycling schemes and other schemes that enable a lot and aim for a net zero lifestyle for local residents. It’s really important that we don’t just focus on national politics but we think at the local level as well. It may not sound significant but having a few Greens in the room, in a parish council for example, can be the difference between having a recycling round once a week versus a recycling round every month, and that impacts people’s behaviour. It sounds minor, but it’s all those little battles that need to happen as well.”

Do you have a positive message to end on for young people who many be feeling disillusioned with politics at the moment?

To reiterate what I said earlier, getting involved and taking the plunge. The climate crisis has caused a lot of anger, anxiety and stress for a lot of people and getting involved can help with that. So getting involved, volunteering, whether that’s with the Green Party, trying to get more Green politicians, or in local environmental campaigns or groups. But it is also important to take some time for yourself. You can still get burned out even if you feel like you’re fighting the good fight and when you feel like you’ve got to fight for everything, but it’s also okay to say ‘I’m going to take some time out, I’m going to slow down as well’”.


If you would like to get in touch with James regarding getting involved in the Green Party and local government, or have any general questions, you can contact him at: [email protected]

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales. Join us now!

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

The post “The Green Party is the only party at the moment that is offering that progressive vision” An Interview with Councillor James Crawford appeared first on Young Greens.