Newly elected Cllr Essex in May 2010
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 and County Councils.
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. Many people are anxious and afraid.
Our Councillors will do all they can to support our communities, working with the Council and the voluntary sector, in line with official advice.
At the Council’s budget-setting meeting on 13 February 2020, I called on the Council to set targets for new genuinely affordable homes for rent, to provide stronger support across all our communities to address the impacts of austerity, and to commit to real urgency in addressing climate change.
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.
Thank you to everyone who voted Green in the recent General Election. You can read the local results here
Three public hustings give you a chance to hear from all the candidates seeking your vote in the general election.
Godstone hustings
30 November, 4pm
The White Hart Barn, behind the White Hart Inn, High Street, Godstone RH9 8BT
Whyteleafe hustings
Monday 2 December, 7.30pm
St Luke’s Church. Whyteleafe, CR3 0AA.
Tatsfield hustings
Wednesday 4 December, 7.30pm
The WI Hall, Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AT
Caterham hustings – with a focus on education
Thursday 5 December, 6-7pm
Sunnydown School 152 Whyteleafe Rd, Caterham CR3 5ED
Two public hustings give you a chance to hear from all the candidates seeking your vote in the general election.
Come along – and bring any friends who may be undecided how to vote
Redhill hustings hosted by Churches Together
Monday 2nd December, 7.30pm
St Bede’s School, Carlton Road, Redhill RH1 2LQ
Please email your questions in advance to johncapon@btopenworld.com
Banstead hustings hosted by The Banstead Five Churches
Friday 6 December, 7.30pm
Banstead United Reformed Church, Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead SM7 3AA
Submit your questions using this form
Read about the Green candidate, Jonathan Essex
Jonathan Essex has selected to be the Green Party candidate in the General Election on 12 December 2019
Jonathan is a chartered civil engineer and environmentalist, and has served as an active councillor in Redhill since 2010.
He says, “I will fight to protect our Green Belt and Surrey countryside, for fairer rail and bus fares and for planning rules requiring zero-carbon and truly affordable homes.
“We need a fairer Britain and tough action on climate change. This means shifting from our throw-away society, standing against oil drilling and airport expansion, and pushing for properly funded public services – youth and children’s centres, social care, schools and the NHS.
“In this safe Conservative seat, I urge people to vote for the change they believe in. Every Green vote will send a strong message that we need a new politics, with a clear plan that works for all, within our planet’s limits.”
Contact Jonathan
Email: jonathan.essex@greenparty.org.uk
Phone: 07801 541924
Twitter: @_JonathanEssex
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.
The Government announcement that fracking is being suspended misses out the huge expansion of oil and gas production using unconventional techniques in the South East.
Green Surrey County Councillor Jonathan Essex said: “The ban needs to be extended to the unconventional oil and gas extraction methods used in the Weald, which carry the same earthquake risks and other risks from methods involving acid stimulation.”
