Hello to our friends, colleagues, and supporters!
As we approach the end of another incredible year, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year on behalf of the Telford and Wrekin Green Party.
Looking back over the past year, there’s so much to celebrate! During the general election, both John Adams for Telford and I for The Wrekin had the honour of representing the Green Party. We achieved something amazing—our vote share doubled! That’s a huge milestone for us locally, and we’re really excited about it.
This growing support has empowered us to hold the Labour Party accountable on important issues. We’ve tackled everything from the pollution in the River Severn to improving accessibility for those with disabilities in public spaces. Thanks to our dedicated community members, we were able to work with others to push for transparency, leading to a tribunal that ordered Telford and Wrekin Council to release some vital documents.
Our commitment to serving the community is stronger than ever. Our volunteers are actively involved in the eco-friendly Wellington Cycle Delivery Scheme, making sure shopping gets delivered to homes within three miles of Wellington—without harming the planet. Plus, our members have been working hard to raise awareness and funds for essential medical and baby supplies for Gaza and Palestine.
We’ve also teamed up with various groups focused on animal rights, environmental issues, and disability rights. We’ve offered free advice and help to families and individuals navigating the often tricky local and national government processes of applying for assistance.
Additionally, we’re proud to stand alongside Telford Together with Refugees in supporting asylum seekers and refugees, who have been more or less abandoned in Telford by a council and government seemingly more concerned with appeasing Farage supporters than addressing human need. These individuals are desperate to pay their way and simply want the minimum necessary to achieve this—but even that seems too much to ask. This neglect results in homelessness and unemployment, creating a situation where everyone loses.
While we’re making strides at all levels, we can’t ignore some concerning decisions from our local Labour MP, who has voted against heating allowances for pensioners and policies aimed at reducing child poverty. Sure, there are “free” breakfast clubs, but they don’t really tackle the root problems.
Our campaigning has shed light on the gap between Labour’s election promises and reality, which has seen them reducing bus fares to 50p over the Christmas period. While we see this as a step in the right direction, there’s still a lot of work to do.
We’re pleased to see the National Living Wage set to rise to £12.21 by 2025, which will help around 4,000 workers in our borough. However, we’re still pushing for a £15 per hour living wage and a maximum 10:1 pay gap between the highest and lowest earners in businesses to help lift our poorest workers out of poverty.
Lastly, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone working over Christmas—those in the NHS, emergency services, armed forces, and essential services. Your dedication keeps us all safe and healthy, and we truly appreciate your commitment.
Remember, we do politics differently, and we promise to always bring you the truth. Here’s to a brighter, greener future together!
Warm wishes,
Pat McCarthy
Coordinator, Telford and Wrekin Green Party