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Ten years ago this week, Jonathan Essex was elected as Redhill’s first ever Green Councillor – and the first to be elected on a Green ticket in Surrey. Since then he’s worked tirelessly to bring about positive changes in Redhill and beyond – and has proved a strong and principled independent voice on the local […]

We are in uncertain times as the Covid-19 pandemic escalates in our country and round the world. We don’t yet know the extent of the impacts it will have, but we do know they will be devastating, with great loss of life and difficulties for people, businesses and communities across every sector of our society. […]

Crispin Blunt was re-elected as MP for Reigate last week and has published an Election Statement setting out his priorities for the new term. We are disappointed to see no mention of the climate emergency, and no commitment to addressing poverty, beyond urging support for local charities to take the strain.

Cllr Ruth Ritter writes: It is with tremendous sadness and anger that I have read today the Trussell Trust’s State of Hunger report which outlines their research on the use of food banks in the UK.

This month Fairtrade, the UK’s most visible ethical label, celebrates it’s 25th birthday. In Reigate an Action group is being formed to take Reigate towards ‘Fairtrade town’ status as a way to celebrate the achievements of the past 25 years of Fairtrade but also to continue to promote Fairtrade products and inform local people about […]

All but four Conservative members of Surrey County Council today blocked a joint Green/Labour motion linking airport expansion with an increased risk of climate chaos. Jonathan Essex, Green Party Councillor for Redhill East, seconded a Labour-tabled motion at today’s Surrey County Council meeting. The Motion called on the County Council to be clear on its […]

Surrey County Council has committed to reviewing its use of glyphosate, a controversial weedkiller that has been blamed for causing cancer, following a motion tabled by Green councillor Jonathan Essex. The motion also introduces moves towards a wildlife-friendly verge cutting regime, to protect wildflowers and invertebrates. The motion was passed with 63 votes in favour […]

Today Surrey County Council voted in favour of a Climate Emergency  Motion, with the aim of going carbon neutral by 2050. Green Cllr Jonathan Essex said: “After trying to get Surrey to move forward on its climate commitments earlier this year, we’ve finally got some progress with a Climate Emergency Motion being passed.

Redhill Green Councillor Jonathan Essex spoke at the launch of the Surrey Climate Commission today, alongside some of the county’s leading climate experts. Watch highlights from the launch on this short (three-minute) video

This week, the Surrey Mirror asked local politicians to comment on the question: How can Councils best improve issues around Social Housing? Jonathan Essex, Green Councillor for Earlswood & Whitebushes, responded: Housing policy and funding are in a right mess. House prices in Surrey are unaffordable for most people, and there is a desperate shortage […]