The Green Party in Stroud District is running its first-ever local election crowdfunder, which aims to keep the Conservatives in opposition – where they have been for 12 years – and to retain the Green leadership of Stroud District Council. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-stroud-greens-become-the-largest-party-in-sdc
The campaign – which has already raised more than £2,000 towards its £5,000 target – will help pay for the leaflets the party needs to deliver to achieve its aim of becoming the biggest political group on Stroud District Council after the Thursday May 2 elections.
All pledges will be doubled under a match-funding agreement with a major private donor. If more than the target amount is raised, the extra will go into party funds for the election campaign.
All Stroud District Council seats are up for election, and for the first time the Green Party is fielding candidates for all 51 council seats in each of the 27 Stroud District Council wards.
The Green group already leads the progressive alliance of Greens, Independents and Liberal Democrats that runs the council, and the aim is to become the majority party and retain leadership of the council after May 2.
The current political make-up of the council is:
Leadership alliance: 26 (Greens 14, Independents 9, Lib Dems 3)
Opposition: 19 (Conservatives)
Other: 5 (Labour 4, Independent 1)
This cross-party working has prevented the Conservatives from running the council for more than a decade. The Tories have the largest group of councillors, but they cannot form a majority.
“We need to gain only six more seats (fewer if the Conservatives lose any seats, which looks very likely) for the Greens to be the biggest single party and 12 extra to run the council outright with a majority, relegating the Conservatives to continue in opposition in Stroud District, as they have been for 12 years,” said Green group leader Catherine Braun.
“I’m thrilled that for the first time we are fielding candidates in every single seat; we have a strong slate of hard-working and active Green candidates who are committed to turning Stroud District Green.”
She added: “Feedback from knocking on doors across the district is really positive, so we are confident of winning more seats as well as holding our existing ones.
“To win council seats on the scale we have in mind requires funding for the campaign, and unlike the Conservatives, who are funded by big business, and Labour, who are funded by big unions, we rely on donations from members and supporters. So this year, we are crowd-funding, for the first time for a local election campaign, and we are so grateful for all donations, however small.”
Promoted by Rob Brookes on behalf of Stroud District Green Party at 17 Great George St, Bristol BS1 5QT
This article is a paid-for promotion by the Stroud Greens.
