Social justice and strong principles are Green way, says Khan

Posted on May 21, 2014 by

VOTE 2014: The Green Party has never had a councillor in Croydon. Here, their local co-chair SHASHA KHAN offers his party line about why they deserve your vote in tomorrow’s Town Hall elections

The Green Party has used controversial flyers in Croham Ward, where Shasha Khan is standing

The Green Party has used controversial flyers in Croham Ward, where Shasha Khan is standing

If you are reading this article then you already take an interest in social, current and political affairs in Croydon. Regrettably, too many in Croydon don’t keep informed on decisions that affect their lives, but you do. That is why we’re asking you to vote Green tomorrow.

The vast majority of people vote tribally in Croydon, and this “you’d better vote for our lot because the other lot might get in” approach is leaving the long-term success and stability of our borough at risk. As Will Self, the novellist and commentator, said, “There is only a width of an anorexic cigarette paper between the main three parties.” And in Croydon, Labour and the Conservatives just need to position themselves a tiny bit to the left or to the right of their counterparts to secure their core vote.

Croydon needs principled councillors who have a proven track record of standing up for what they believe in: for social justice and the environment.

Our recent flyer distributed in Croham ward caused a stir on Twitter. The main two parties must have the courage to say that if there are cuts to be made, then it should start with councillors’ remuneration. Councillors need to re-engage and connect with voters, and lead by example. That is what Greens would do.

Greens want to see high-quality public services run for people and not for profit. Our principled anti-incinerator campaign highlights what happens if parties fail to resist and reverse the privatisation of our services. The free market will always gravitate towards what is the most profitable.

When it comes to waste disposal, incineration is seen to be the most profitable solution.

Before the last local elections four years ago, I remember vividly listing the social ills that come about from unequal societies. High prison populations, high levels of depression, high levels of alcoholism, high levels of depression and high levels of crime are all associated with societies where the gap between the richest and poorest is the widest. The United States and Portugal top the unequal group, with Britain in third place, among rich countries of the world.

Shasha Khan: vote for what you believe in

Shasha Khan: vote for what you believe in

One year later, we had the riots. I hope readers of this article will consider why most economically developed countries don’t have economic riots, whereas Britain and the US do. Then I would ask them to consider why Croydon bore the brunt of the riots and Richmond Upon Thames and Bromley did not. Is it because from socially deprived Broad Green ward you can get on a bus heading south, and within 20 minutes, you could be in an area where millionaires are the norm? This disparity in wealth is not healthy for our borough.

A London Living Wage, which we advocate, is actually not enough. Greens would introduce a 10:1 fair pay policy to tackle this inequality, meaning that no council employee is paid more than 10 times the lowest paid workers – a policy adopted by Green-led Brighton council. We will also encourage council suppliers to implement such a policy. For more information on this, our 70 candidates and our local manifesto please go to: http://croydon.greenparty.org.uk/2014-council-candidates.html

I urge you to make a difference and vote Green in 2014.

Vote for what you believe in.

  • Shasha Khan is the co-leader of the Sutton and Croydon Greens, and is a candidate in Croham ward in the local elections

Inside Croydon’s recent coverage of the local elections:

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About insidecroydon

News, views and analysis about the people of Croydon, their lives and political times in the diverse and most-populated borough in London. Based in Croydon and edited by Steven Downes. To contact us, please email inside.croydon@btinternet.com
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