Could the former candidates and Sir John Stanley tell us what they think of the new coalition Government. What will it mean to us here in Tonbridge?

The Green Party in this country has had the opportunity to witness coalitions including Greens in more than 10 other countries, as well as participating in coalitions in local government here in the UK.

Kent Green Party has examined the statements explaining what the new Coalition Government will do. Our immediate conclusion is that unemployment will rise significantly as a result of the proposed policies of this Coalition. Dr Hazel Dawe, Chair of Kent Green Party, explains why:

“The new coalition is committed to immediate cuts in public spending of £6 billion with worse to follow. This will, without question, lead to a rise in unemployment nationally and here in Kent and Medway. This coalition is planning a second recession. Sectors such as local government, the civil service and the University sector are already shedding lots of jobs despite obvious staff shortages. This could be avoided: we could tax the wealthiest fifth of households more, and increase taxes on large corporations, whilst closing tax loopholes and bringing in a tax on currency transactions. We can also cut the bloated defence budget by bringing our forces home from Afghanistan in line with public opinion.

“The Coalition also begins life without a promise of a fair electoral system. Once again, despite clear public support, the new Government is to maintain one of the very few undemocratic electoral systems in the world. We can only imagine how many Liberal Democrat members and supporters feel: they voted Lib Dem and got a Conservative Government with mainly Conservative policies. Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas MP, has already issued a national media release encouraging disillusioned Lib Dems to join the Green Party. Kent Green Party invites Lib Dems in Kent and Medway to examine Green Party policies and join us.”