From a humble inaugural meeting on a November evening at The Saracen’s Head in Hereford, Herefordshire Greens have celebrated 40 years of political activism and success in the county.
Forty years ago Herefordshire resident Guy Woodford placed a small advertisement in the Hereford Times, rallying those who believed in political solutions to ecological problems. The extraordinary response packed a backroom of the pub with an active group establishing a Herefordshire branch of the Ecology Party, attracting well-known figures like Jonathon Porritt to the county as activists sought to establish a political wing to promote green causes. The party developed into the Green Party, which has now become a strong and effective force in Herefordshire politics.
Baroness Jenny Jones, who chaired Herefordshire Greens in 1990 – and who is one of the two Green Party members of the House of Lords – returned for the birthday celebrations at Leominster’s Grange Court. Baroness Jones has been an outspoken campaigner for reform, initiating the Clean Air Bill, lambasting the government for its draconian Public Order Bill, and advocating for proportional representation.
Baroness Jones paid tribute to those ‘hard working members of the Green community’, who laid the foundations for today’s political success. ‘We can make a difference,’ said Baroness Jones, ‘and because of local groups like this the Green Party now has hundreds of elected local councillors all across the country – speaking up for people and planet.’
Former journalist and Green Party activist Pete Blench organised the event with his wife, long-standing Green councillor and community activist Felicity Norman. Pete warmly thanked Guy Woodford, who became the first Green councillor in Herefordshire. ‘And thanks to Vicky Murray and Felicity for putting themselves forward as the first parliamentary candidates of our movement in 1983.’
‘It’s been a long road! We’ve learned how to fight and win local elections, how to work with others and how to enter into partnership as part of the coalition administration of Herefordshire Council.’
Blench noted that despite the first past the post election system, Greens have been more and more successful in recent General Elections, and are now very well placed to challenge the Conservatives at the next election with their prospective Parliamentary candidate Ellie Chowns.
Ellie Chowns, who previously served as an MEP for the West Midlands and is currently Cabinet member for environment and economy and Green Group Leader at Herefordshire Council, paid tribute to the work of countless Green activists over the years. ‘We are standing on the shoulders of giants’ said Chowns, who thanked Baroness Jones for ‘continuing to be a thorn in the side of the political establishment’. She thanked the dozens of activists in the room for their work in making the Greens such an effective political force: ‘Our success in Herefordshire is thanks to the efforts of all of you here today!’
