■ Peter Tatchell.

OXFORD, April 24, 2007  –  Peter Tatchell, the internationally recognised human rights campaigner and founder of the gay human rights group Outrage!, has today been chosen as the Green Party’s general election candidate for Oxford East.

He faced stiff competition from Matt Morton, a local environmental activist, and the vote was put to the local party. Peter Tatchell won 63 per cent of the vote. 

Oxfordshire Green Party is one of the most successful in the country with Green councillors elected to all levels of local Government – county, city and parish.

The eight-strong Green Group currently holds the balance of power on Oxford City Council.  At last year’s local election, more than 1 in 5 people voted Green.

“I am honoured to be selected as the Green Party candidate,” Mr. Tatchell said at a press conference at Oxford Town Hall this morning.

“My first priority is to consult with the people of Oxford and listen to their concerns.  Over time, I hope to win their trust and confidence.

“I wasn’t afraid to take on President Robert Mugabe.  I will show the same determination to fight hard for Oxford East.

“I plan to start living part-time in the constituency and to get immersed in local community campaigns, including opposing the destruction of Radley Lakes, the privatisation of public services, the shortage of affordable housing and job cuts in the Oxfordshire NHS,” he continued.

“The people of Oxford have an opportunity to make history by electing Britain’s first Green MP.  Labour and Andrew Smith have lost their heart and soul.  They are the party of war, privatisation, the unfair council tax system and public services that often fail to deliver.  It is time for change.

“Support for Labour has fallen.  The Lib Dems are losing votes to the revived Conservatives.  This is a great opportunity for the Greens to come though the middle and win the seat.

“I am offering the voters a real choice: do you want an independent-minded Green MP, or another grey clone from the Lib Dems, Tories and Labour?

“Unlike Andrew Smith, I won’t surrender my independence and be bossed around by the party whips.  I will support what is best for Oxford East.

“Climate change is the single biggest threat to Britain’s prosperity and security.  The Greens are the only party with serious, credible policies to halt global warming.

“I oppose government plans to waste billions on Trident nuclear weapons, ID cards and private finance initiatives in health and education.  We need more doctors and teachers, and fewer management consultants. Public services should serve the public, not enrich private corporations,” he concluded.

Welcoming the result, Green Party principal speaker, Dr. Derek Wall, said: “Peter has been a friend since 1988.  From his citizens arrest of Robert Mugabe to his work in Outrage! using direct action to promote gay liberation, his record on human rights and social justice campaigning is one of the most impressive in Britain.

“We are lucky to have him as a candidate,  I think he can win in Oxford East, a constituency which includes wards like St Mary’s where we already receive 66 per cent of the vote,” Dr. Wall continued.

“He is going to raise the game for the whole party and I think his selection will be seen as a real turning point, making the party more serious, more professional and more focussed on issues of justice. I will be out knocking on doors for him and I know I won’t be alone.”

Councillor Matt Sellwood, the Deputy Leader of the Oxford City Council Green Group, said that the Party was delighted to have Mr. Tatchell representing Oxford East.

“He has a proven history of principle and campaigning success, and when combined with the local party’s electoral expertise, we expect an excellent result,” he predicted.

LINKS

		website
Outrage! website

 

Posted: 24 April 2007 at 12:30 (UK time)