Letter to SNJ re MPs expenses

Here's my letter below which went out this evening - not sure if they'll print but they have printed other parties views on this issue so I'll keep fingers crossed.

Cartoon: not sure where this came from but was in amongst emails - thanks to whoever created it!

Letters in the SNJ critical of some MPs expense claims, remind us that politics is not naturally corrupting (27/05/09). Some have claimed the row is creating "an anti-politics mood", but is it politics the public are against, or the behaviour of some self-serving politicians?

Campaign group Open Europe have just rated Caroline Lucas MEP, leader of the Green Party, as the best British MEP on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste, while Britain's Green Party MEPs were ranked above the groups of all other British parties. Indeed the Greens have been instrumental in trying to make the information about MEPs’ expenses public. Outrageously their efforts were blocked by representatives from the other political groups and the information was kept under wraps.

It is perhaps not surprising that a YouGov survey this week says the Greens are the most trusted politicians and viewed as least likely to put financial interests before the interests of their country. While a YouGov poll found 34% said they were either definitely going to vote Green or would consider voting Green in the European elections (iii).

Britain needs a new vision. Greens are the only party in this campaign that have presented a positive vision for the future. Perhaps the Green Party's million-jobs manifesto, for tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time, has struck a chord with the voters? These elections might yet signal a desire for positive change.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.