The Green Group of Councillors have submitted a Notice of Motion to be considered at the next Full Council meeting calling for greater financial support for local maternity services. (1)

Deputy Convenor Cllr Amy Kennedy said: "We welcome the news that the Primary Care Trust is planning to introduce a midwife led unit in the city, following a recent survey into local residents views about the kinds of maternity services they desire. (2)

"But the 'Have Your Say' survey showed just how much else needs to change - and chief among these was better continuity of care.

"An overwhelming 88 per cent of respondents said they wanted to see the same midwife throughout their pregancy and for post natal care - but recent research suggest just 6 in every 100 women to give birth locally actually get this kind of consistency. (3)

"Greens are supporting this call, and are also backing the national Reclaim Birth campaign - which seeks greater funding and support for maternity services across the country more generally.

"Local midwives are doing the very best they can, but there's an urgent need for better support for this crucial part of the NHS. (4)

"Across the world, more than half a million women die during pregnancy or childbirth every year.

"While women in the UK fare better than many elsewhere, there's still a job of work to do to ensure maternity services across the country better reflect the needs and wishes of pregnant women and their partners."

The Motion will be presented to the Council on Thursday 18 March by Cllr Jason Kitcat, Green Group Health Spokesperson.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766670.

(1) The full text of the motion is as follows:

GREEN GROUP NOTICE OF MOTION

MATERNITY SERVICES IN BRIGHTON & HOVE

"This council welcomes the news that Brighton & Hove PCT are planning to introduce a midwife led unit in the city, and recognises that this decision reflects the findings of a recent survey into local residents views about the kinds of maternity services they desire.

"This council notes that the survey also found that:

- 88 per cent of respondents said they would like the same midwife throughout pregnancy and post natal care;

- 99 per cent of respondents thought it was a good idea to offer free counselling to women who have had a difficult birth.

"Furthermore, this council notes and supports the aims of the National Childbirth Trust's Reclaiming Birth campaign, which is also calling for more midwives carrying their own caseloads and looking after parents-to-be from conception to birth and post-natally, and for more women to be able to give birth in free-standing midwifery units (Birth Centres) or at home.

"Therefore this council requests the Chief Executive to:

Write to the PCT urging them to act on the other findings of the survey with regard to midwife provision and post-natal counselling services;

Write to the Health Secretary Andy Burnham to call for funding to enable PCTs to better meet the needs of expectant women and new parents."

(2) Please see: http://www.brightonandhove.nhs.uk/haveyoursay/surveys/maternitycare/index.asp

Brighton Clock Tower, one of the city's central road junctions, is currently being worked on.

Fencing has been erected around the tower, and this has resulted in a key pedestrian crossing normally in use being closed.

Keith said: "The clock tower junction is in the heart of Brighton and thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people use it everyday.

"Although the junction has a high volume of road traffic, pedestrians usually have the option of clearly marked and safe road crossings.

"But, with the Queen's Rd crossing blocked, pedestrians are now being told to walk up a bit further and seem to be expected to make a dash for it.

"The council hasn't put up any special signs or introduced any new traffic controls at the point at which people are expected to cross and I'm really concerned it's only a matter of time before there's an accident."

Brighton & Hove City Council has pledged to look in to the situation.

For more information please contact Brighton and Hove Green Party on 01273 766 670.

Greens are committed to the founding principles of the NHS - including free dental health care, which they say could be provided for an extra £1.8 billion a year.

In Sussex, more than a quarter of children have decayed or missing teeth or fillings by the age of five [1], and an average of 10% of the total admissions to Sussex's main hospitals for general and local anaesthetics during 2008 were for dental treatment [2].

Caroline Lucas, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion constituency said: "£1.8 billion a year is a trifling sum for a huge improvement in Britain's dental health service.

"Everyone who wants one should have access to an NHS dentist, and we must end the scandal of British children in the twenty-first century suffering the pain and misery that come with poor teeth."

Caroline, who is MEP for the South East including Brighton, continued:"People in Brighton and Hove have some of the best teeth in the country, and I want to ensure that people all over Britain have access to the same kind of care.

"Water fluoridation is a cheap, tacky, sticking plaster solution with side-effects - mass medication of doubtful efficacy and potential side-effects is no substitute for a proper dental health care strategy.

"We need to be teaching new parents how to look after their toddlers' teeth, and teaching young children from nursery onwards all about how to look after their own teeth properly."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

1. Please see: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/commentandanalysis/1359644.Parents_must_brush_up_on_dental_care/

2. Please see: http://www2.fluoridealert.org/Alert/United-Kingdom/England/Hundreds-of-Sussex-children-being-treated-for-tooth-decay

Green councillor Amy Kennedy, Deputy Convenor of the 13-strong Green Group of councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council, said: "Brighton & Hove City Council has been run by a Tory administration since May 2007.

"In those three years, the Tories have had ample opportunity - and hundreds of millions of pounds - to pursue their political priorities.

"Our report puts pay to the myth that the Tory party has changed.

"Time and time again, local elected Tory councillors have chosen to turn their backs on the most vulnerable in our city, to preserve the status quo, and to prioritise the interests of those at the top.

"Greens believe in fighting for a fairer and more sustainable society.

"Our experience locally shows just what a barrier the Tory party is to this aim.

"Cameron's claim to head a ‘new progressive force for everyone' is farcical. Voters need only look to the record of elected Tories here in Brighton & Hove to see their real agenda."

[1] Please see PDF [0.6MB] link to report.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

Speaking today Caroline Lucas, who is MEP for the South East including Brighton, said:
"The charges are an unfair and unregulated tax on tenants, with letting agents able to charge whatever they like. Tenants, many of whom are on low incomes and vulnerable, are unwilling to challenge the charges for fear of being denied access to homes. We have evidence of unfair charging among our own party members and from people who have complained to Green councillors."

‘A national Citizens Advice survey confirms our findings. It found that 94 per cent of lettings agents milk tenants for all they're worth by imposing up to seven additional charges, not counting the tenancy deposit and rent in advance. These include non-returnable holding deposits, reference check charges, administration fees, a check-in inventory charge and a tenancy renewal fee.

‘Agents can charge what they like. The charge for renewing a tenancy, a particular concern for people we have talked to in Brighton and Hove, can range from £12 to £200. This is entirely unacceptable. We share Citizens Advice view that action is needed on the this issue. An OFT investigation would be a good way to start it.'

Councillor Bill Randall, Convenor of the Green Group of Councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council, supported Caroline's call, saying:
"The government has promised controls of letting and managing agents, but their proposals do not cover these unregulated charges. We will be asking the council to urge the government to take action over these charges and to ask the Conservative Party to pledge their support for controls. We will also ask the council to commission the trading standards department to carry out ‘mystery shopping' trips among Brighton and Hove's letting agents to determine just how crippling these charges can be."

Caroline met this morning with the CEO of the Brighton Housing Trust, where she discussed the issues the Trust face, as well as how she will be able to support them if she is elected as the MP for Brighton Pavilion.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670

Fresh from their Spring conference where they became the first and only political party to officially support gay marriage and an end to the ban on civil partnerships being conducted in places of worship, tomorrow the Green Party will be announcing their key LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) campaigning policies for the General Election.

The launch will be held on Friday 26th February at 18:30 at the Brighton Tavern.

Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party and MEP for the South East including Brighton, will be attending the launch, along with noted human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Speaking today, Caroline Lucas has said:

"Our launch will coincide with the Conservatives' Spring conference which is also in Brighton. We will highlight the Conservatives continuing failure to commit to LGBT equality, whether over the Shadow Cabinet's votes against access to fertility treatment for lesbian and bi women, or David Cameron's own vote against gay adoption. 85 per cent of those eligible in the Conservative Shadow Cabinet voted for the homophobic Section 28 while 90% voted against an equal age of consent, and today Tories continue to oppose the Equalities Bill in the House of Lords."

"The Green Party are using our specific LGBT manifesto to send out a clear call that Britain still has a long way to go on equality issues. We are calling for homophobic crimes to be urgently dealt with on a par with racist crimes."

Peter Tatchell also commented on the launch:

"The Green Party will go into the General Election as the only party campaigning for marriage and partnership equality. We are calling for civil marriages and civil partnerships to be open to both same-sex and opposite sex couples, without discrimination. We reaffirm our opposition to the blanket, lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. Our manifesto commitments show up the shortcomings of the other parties."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670

"We are dismayed by their flat refusal to work with us," said Cllr Bill Randall, Convenor of the Green Group of Councillors.

"They are putting party political considerations before the needs of the most vulnerable people in our city who will be most affected by this budget, which contains critical cuts in social care and children's services.

"By working together at the end of last year we were able to make significant improvements to the Conservatives' core strategy.

"We had hoped we would be able to maintain this united approach to the budget proposals. We urge them to forget about the approaching general election and put the city first.

"Green Cllrs will be submitting their own amendments, seeking to limit the worst aspects of the Tory proposals.

"We hope to reduce or remove planned cuts in funding for social care and youth offending team work, and will also be putting forward our own proposals seeking greater support for local schools, sheltered housing schemes and Brighton based charities providing vital local services.

"We also hope to put forward proposals to bring many of the city's empty homes back into use," explained Councillor Randall.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

A telephone poll of 336 voters in Brighton Pavilion constituency commissioned by The Argus local newspaper gives Labour a surprising and incongruous lead with the Green Party in third place behind the Conservatives.[1]

This is at variance with all other polling and electoral information, including a 533 voter poll conducted by ICM Research, a reputable national polling company and member of the British polling council, in December.[2]

It is also inconsistent with the prevailing political mood of the electorate and local and European elections held over the last two years and the general election of 2005 when the Greens polled 22%.

The Green Party says the poll by Kindle Research does not conform to the standard professional practice for voter intention surveys undertaken by reputable political polling companies that are members of the British Polling Council including Ipsos MORI, ICM and YouGov.

Chris Rose, National Election Agent for the Green Party, said, "Whichever way you look at it, this poll is completely substandard and misleading.

"While all polls have a margin of error, if a newspaper wants to commission a professional survey of local voter intentions, they should commission a poll of at least the standard sample size of 500 voters with a question structure that conforms to British Polling Council member standard practice.

"If this poll were a packet of cigarettes the 'skull and cross bones' health warning would need to cover the whole packet. It's the nearest thing in the research industry to a polling health hazard."

Paul Steedman, National Campaign Director for the Green Party, added, "We expected a few voodoo polls in this highly charged campaign and this is the first one but I suspect it may not be the last.

"The poll is so way out, topsy-turvy and against all the evidence we have from our doorstep campaigning that it might as well have been commissioned by Alice in Wonderland.

"It might make an interesting topic of conversation in the pub but it is hopeless and flawed research.

"The hard facts suggest this is a two-horse race between the Greens and Tories.

"Our campaign has already achieved a critical momentum as voters are hearing our message and we step up the fight to stop the Tories."

Greens point to the following weaknesses in the research base of the poll:

Unclear professional credentials for political polling: Kindle Research does not appear to have any significant background in political polling.

Failure to screen out non-voters: the Kindle Research poll failed to follow usual practice by screening people who said they would not vote. Non-voters are irrelevant to the outcome and should be screened out via preparatory questioning on likelihood of voting.

Failure to prompt parties as is standard practice by BPC member companies: there was no prompt for any party - which is not usual practice in BPC member political research. Respondents in voter intention opinion polls are usually prompted for the main challenging parties in a contest. This is because respondents may not have considered the choices in a telephone poll fully in the way they would do so in a real polling situation. ICM Research have suggested this poll does not appear to follow British Polling Council guidelines and does not conform to their own professional practice for undertaking voter intention research. Voter intention polls follow stringent guidelines, and are carefully formulated to be as accurate as possible, including prompting the names of political parties. Failure to do this automatically biases the result towards the larger parties.

Failure to use a standard size voter sample: the sample of voters is too small to be reliable. The poll sample was only 336 people in Brighton Pavilion, meaning the margin of error on a professional poll is approximately 10% rendering this poll, with all its other weaknesses listed in this statement, too unclear to be meaningful.

Incongruous result with other election predictions: most leading bookmakers have Green candidate Caroline Lucas as favourite to win Brighton Pavilion seat. The Kindle Research poll prediction suggests Labour also lead in the hyper marginal neighbouring constituencies of Hove and Kemptown. This differs to the mood on the doorstep with most pollsters currently predicting Conservative gains there.

For more information please contact Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670. 

Notes to editors

1. The Kindle Research-Argus poll puts Labour on 26%, the Tories on 16%, and Greens on 12%, with the LibDems on 5% and others 2%.

2. A recent ICM poll puts Greens ahead of the Conservatives and Labour - with Greens on 35%, the Conservatives on 27% and Labour on 25%. This is congruous with YouGov study for politicshome.co.uk, which has predicted a Green win.**

3. The European elections in 2009 saw Greens take the largest percentage of the vote in Brighton, gaining 31%, ahead of Conservatives (22%) and Labour (15%). Council elections also support a growth in Green support. Greens have the same number of councillors sitting on Brighton and Hove City Council as Labour and in a recent by-election the Greens took a seat from the Conservatives.

**December poll - ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 533 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 16-21st December 2009. Interviews were conducted across the political constituency of Brighton Pavilion and the results have been weighted to the profile of all Brighton Pavilion adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
_______

Caroline Lucas, Green Party general election candidate for Brighton Pavilion constituency, is proposing at the Green Party's spring conference [1] that the Greens should support the Robin Hood tax [2] campaign fronted by actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean) and supported by a large number of charities and economists.

The Financial Transaction Tax would impose a very low tax on financial products such as stocks, bonds and derivatives but - at an average rate of 0.05% - could raise around £250 billion a year globally for investment in international development and climate change, as well as in domestic priorities.

Caroline Lucas said: "This simple tax would have enormous national and global benefits.

"I'm pleased to be one of the proposers of a motion to the Green Party's Spring Conference that the Greens should support the Robin Hood tax campaign."

"Here in Sussex almost a fifth of children are living in poverty, and in Brighton people are forced to sleep rough on the streets.

"Over 7% of the population living in Brighton Pavilion are unemployed [3].

"Yet we are watching as the banks continue to award themselves huge bonuses, whilst the rest of the world remains in financial turmoil. Aside from the urgent need to curb the bankers' bonuses, there is a real opportunity to benefit those in most need, providing money to tackle poverty and climate change."

---

1. The Green Party's Spring Conference is in London from 18th to 21st February

2. To find out more about the Robin Hood tax please see http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/

3. Figure taken from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15084

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

After a proposal by Brighton & Hove City Council to fell a line of Plane trees in a central Brighton street on grounds of safety, local Green councillors have helped to reverse the idea.

Green city councillor Keith Taylor alongside residents worked with the council's staff to ensure another solution was found. 

Keith said: "I'm very pleased that the Council's tree team are now confident the trees can be saved from felling by ‘restoration pruning'.

"Such a strong public interest in these trees is heartening, and I know our arboriculturists are dedicated to conserving and developing our tree stock. Ward Cllrs will be at a drop in session at the Calvary Church on February 24th where residents can ask any further questions and put forward their own ideas. **

"As a city I believe we need much more tree planting, and will work with colleagues to promote this."

A council officer sent a letter to Clyde Road residents that reads: "I have now reviewed the recent safety audit and am confident that major reduction of the canopies of the trees and Restoration Pruning of the re-growth would allow the trees to stay in situ, reduce the current safety concerns to an acceptable level and therefore negate the need for felling and it is my intention to now pursue this course of action".

For more information please contact Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

** The Drop-In session will take place at the Calvary Church in nearby Viaduct Road on Wednesday, February 24th between 6pm and 8pm.

The letter received from Labour MP Chris Mole states that "FCC has been fulfilling its obligations under the Franchise agreement, operating amended timetables in agreement with the Department", while at the same time admitting the service has been "unacceptable in terms of cancellations, punctuality and passenger service information".

Caroline Lucas, MEP for the South East including Brighton, said:

"I am extremely disappointed with the reply I have received. Chris Mole accepts that the service is unacceptable, but is still refusing to take serious action. He says his department will continue to "closely monitor" FCC's performance, and assures us he is expecting a "radical improvement". My question is how long are the people who use this line going to have to wait?"

Caroline, who hopes to become MP for Brighton Pavilion, continued:

"I have called repeatedly for First Capital Connect to be stripped of their franchise, due to the shockingly poor service they have provided."

"The letter from the Department of Transport says FCC has recruited new drivers, as is re-training existing drivers, in order to 'lessen the reliance on overtime and rest day working'. However, it does not tell us how long this will take, how many more drivers have been recruited, or if there will be any further disruption to passengers. I know first hand that the service remains overcrowded and unreliable, due to poor management."

Councillor Ian Davey, who is the Green Party Transport spokesperson on Brighton and Hove City Council, said:

"I was surprised to read in the Argus that Labour candidate Nancy Platts had written in saying the same thing, as it is clear from the letter received that this Labour Government has no intention of re-nationalising FCC. It is the Green Party who have always argued for the nationalisation of public services."

"Passengers pay enough in rail fares that they should not be faced with this kind of service - it is simply not good enough."

"The time for procrastination has passed. It is time that the Labour government took much needed action and brought this train service back into public ownership as they have done elsewhere. Only by doing so can we hope to a public transport system that runs in the public interest."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670 

Caroline Lucas, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion constituency, alongwith leading city councillor Bill Randall have criticised policies that have led to the weakening of Brighton and Hove's economy.

Employees at the University of Sussex, a leading public sector employer in the city, have been threatened with job cuts.

Recently, some employees and students occupied a University of Sussex building and are holding demonstrations against the proposed 115 job cuts.

Caroline Lucas said: "The last thing we need to be doing in the current economic climate is making cuts.

"What is needed is investment in public services, to make sure we get out - and stay out - of recession."

"Investing in the success of future generations is essential, and benefits the whole of society, not just those studying."

"Cuts to Universities, such as those proposed at Sussex, will have a devastating effect on students and staff.

"I have written to the Vice-Chancellor of Sussex University to voice my concern over the proposed cuts to vital services such as UNISEX, a sexual health advice service."

"We are currently in a situation where upon leaving school, students are paying huge sums of money to attend universities which are having their services cut, and then graduating into an unstable job market, faced with possible unemployment."

"A million new green collar jobs could be created, if the Government puts the Green New Deal, long advocated by the Green Party, at the centre of the public spending programme that is needed to help the UK is to climb out of the recession."

"Men and women would be put to work across the employment spectrum, from researching and developing into new tools to tackle climate change to insulating homes.

"This work will substantially reduce the UK's carbon footprint and reduce our dependence on finite energy resources that supply this country with oil and gas."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670

Community Base provides affordable office space to over 20 community and voluntary groups in Brighton & Hove, including Mencap, Cruse Bereavement Care, and the NHS Support Federation.

The revenue provided by the advertising banner was crucial to Community Base's annual budget, and the organisation is now faced with having to raise rents in order to cover the shortfall.

St Peter's & North Laine councillor Pete West, who spoke in support of the application at the planning committee said:

"Planning officers have consistently offered unconvincing arguments that banner advertising is inappropriate in this location on conservation grounds, but in the past the Planning Committee has taken the reasonable view that Community Base should be allowed to display advertising, in order to provide the organisation with much-needed revenue, and to brighten up what is quite frankly a rather ugly and monolithic concrete edifice.

"However, despite a great deal of support from the local community, well-reasoned arguments, and a plea for clemency from the Director of Community Base, Tory members of the Planning Committee voted against allowing advertising to continue.

"Planning is supposed to be non-party political, but during the debate the Tories made repeated references to the fact that the Green Party has paid to use this location to display billboards in the past.

"Despite being legally advised this was not a valid concern, the Tories persisted with these questions. I certainly got the impression that they may well have organised themselves in advance, and possibly predetermined their decision which is illegal.

"The Tories' decision to refuse permission for Community Base's advertising application seems to have been politically-motivated: now many community and voluntary groups which rely on Community Base for a wide range of services will be faced with financial hardship, in a fiscal climate which has already seen swingeing cuts to funding for the sector.

"The Tories' behaviour was scandalous and not for the first time betrays how little they care for the needs of ordinary people and how little regard they have for the responsibilities of their office. They should be ashamed of themselves for allowing petty party politics to cloud such an important decision, which will have a very real and tangible impact on community and voluntary groups who do such important work in the city."

Community Base are now considering appealing the decision, and are seeking legal advice.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

The survey can be found at: www.carolinelucas.com/cl/survey

Residents are encouraged to share up to five issues which they would want Caroline to prioritise if she were to become their MP.

These could be any issues, from bankers' bonuses to public services, climate change to empty houses, and can be local, national or international.

Speaking today, Caroline said "So often while I'm out canvassing residents will tell me they feel they are simply not being listened to by the council or by their MP.

"This survey will be an effective way to gauge residents' priorities."

"If elected, I will represent the wishes of local residents as an clear and independent voice in Parliament, working for the people of Brighton.

"Of course, the issues I am campaigning on - the NHS, my opposition to job cuts, fair pensions and the economy - are ones that would benefit all my constituents, but I am keen to hear what local people feel is important to them.

"Therefore I'm asking residents living in Brighton Pavilion to take a minute to fill out the survey."

If residents in the constituency do not have use of the internet, they can write to Caroline at Brighton and Hove Green Party 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB.

The survey is only open to those who live in Brighton Pavilion.

A poll by ICM* (December 2009) has predicted a Green Party win in Brighton Pavilion, with the Greens polling at 35%, the Conservatives at 27%, Labour at 25% and the Lib Dems at 11%. This follows a YouGov poll (October 2009) which predicted the Greens would take their first seat in Brighton Pavilion.

The Green Party currently have two Euro-MPs, and in Brighton and Hove the Greens took 31% of the vote, ahead of the Conservatives (22%) and Labour (15%).

Across Brighton and Hove the Green Party has 13 Councillors, following a by-election in July 2009 where Councillor Alex Phillips won a Goldsmid seat from the Conservatives.

This leaves the Conservatives without a majority in full Council meetings.

*ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 533 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 16-21st December 2009.

Interviews were conducted across the political constituency of Brighton Pavilion and the results have been weighted to the profile of all Brighton Pavilion adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

Caroline Lucas, who hopes to become MP for Brighton Pavilion, sent a statement to the occupation yesterday, pledging to oppose Higher Education cuts of elected.

Caroline, who has previously called for essential Sussex services such as UNISEX, a health promotion service run by the Universities, to be protected, said: "In a recession, the other political parties are calling for cuts left, right and centre.

"But Greens know the last thing we need right now is more cuts. Rather, investment into education and public services will ensure that Britain has the resources to get out - and stay out - of recession.

"World class universities ensure that Britain remains able to compete world wide, with top class academics, scientists and thinkers. Well funded universities are vital if we are to have a society where ideas, research and innovation are encouraged and promoted."

"Cuts to Higher Education will have a devastating effect on students and staff, as well as Britain's economy. I am proud of our Universities. Education is not a commodity to be privatised. If elected, I pledge to oppose Higher Education cuts and ensure we do not sell future generations short."

Speaking today at the occupation, Phelim Mac Cafferty, said: "I helped occupy Sussex University ten years ago to support students who were threatened with expulsion because they couldn't pay their tuition fees.

"Through the course of helping to occupy Sussex and a number of other universities, we warned then that higher education was set on a highway to privatisation, cuts and the approach of sell to the highest bidder. Little did we know it would have gone quite this far."

"This is indicative of a Government which tries to sell-off everything that can be sold.

"The message from the occupation here at Sussex is clear - that education is not for sale."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

The meeting tonight, which will be held at the Brighthelm centre, will be looking at the rising uncertainty many are experiencing, faced with cuts to jobs and public services.

The meeting will include members from the University of Sussex who have occupied a university building and are holding demonstrations against the proposed 115 job cuts, a representative from RMT whose union is considering balloting for strike action, and a representative from the Campaign Against Climate change on green jobs.

Speaking today, Caroline Lucas, MEP for the South East including Brighton, has said:

"The last thing we need to be doing in the current economic climate is making cuts. What is needed is investment in public services, to make sure we get out - and stay out - of recession."

Caroline, who hopes to become MP for Brighton Pavilion, continued:

"Investing in the success of future generations is essential, and benefits the whole of society, not just those studying."

"Cuts to Universities, such as those proposed at Sussex, will have a devastating effect on students and staff, and I have written to the Vice Chancellor of Sussex University to voice my concern over the proposed cuts to vital services such as UNISEX."

"We are currently in a situation where upon leaving school, students are paying huge sums of money to attend universities which are having their services cut, and then graduating into an unstable job market, faced with possible unemployment."

Councillor Bill Randall will be attending the meeting tonight, where he will say:

"A million new green collar jobs could be created, if the Government puts the Green New Deal, long advocated by the Green Party, at the centre of the public spending programme that is needed to help the UK is to climb out of the recession."

"Men and women would be put to work across the employment spectrum, from researching and developing into new tools to tackle climate change to insulating homes."

"This work will substantially reduce the UK's carbon footprint and reduce our dependence on finite energy resources that supply this country with oil and gas."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670

With Sara Parkin and Paul Ekins, Porritt founded Forum for the Future in 1996, a sustainable development charity. In 1997, he was appointed the inaugural chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, from which he retired in September 2009.

On his departure, Jonathon Porritt strongly criticised Gordon Brown and Labour's failure to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation.

Speaking at the campaign event on Saturday, he said: "I'm delighted to be joining Caroline to spread the Green message to residents of Brighton Pavilion. It's an exciting time for the Green movement with Caroline being so close to an historic election win."

He continued: "In these challenging and uncertain times, Caroline Lucas and the Greens are providing hope for those who fear the main political parties are not taking the global problems we face seriously enough. Many hope that voting in the first Green MP will set a historic precedent, opening the door for further Green wins around the country."

Porritt concluded: "People have been blind to the fact that the causes of the economic collapse are exactly the same as those behind today's climate crisis. We have ignored financial and environmental debts and risks, whilst having too much deregulation. What we can do, and what Caroline has strongly pushed for, is job creation linked to energy efficiency, renewables, smart energy grids, and new transportation solutions."

Caroline Lucas MEP, candidate for Brighton Pavilion, said: "Throughout the constituency, people are realising it is the Greens who hold the clearest vision of a fair and sustainable future. Our policies cover education, healthcare, the economy and jobs. We have workable solutions to the problems of the 21st century that don't compromise people's rights or the environment. It's an honour and a privilege to have the support of Jonathon in spreading this message."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

1) A poll by ICM* (December 2009) has predicted a Green Party win in Brighton Pavilion, with the Greens polling at 35%, the Conservatives at 27%, Labour at 25% and the Lib Dems at 11%. This follows a YouGov poll (October 2009) which predicted the Greens would take their first seat in Brighton Pavilion. As their campaign continues to gather steam and attract high profile support from the likes of Porritt, hopes have never been higher that this will be their year.

2) In the 2009 European elections in Brighton and Hove, the Greens took 31% of the vote, ahead of the Conservatives (22%) and Labour (15%). Across Brighton and Hove, the Green Party has 13 Councillors, following a by-election in July 2009 where Councillor Alex Phillips won a Goldsmid seat from the Conservatives. This leaves the Conservatives without a majority in full Council meetings.

3) ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 533 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 16-21st December 2009. Interviews were conducted across the political constituency of Brighton Pavilion and the results have been weighted to the profile of all Brighton Pavilion adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

Photo: Charlotte Macperson

"We're pleased the Tories have responded to Green calls to save respite care services for disabled children and their carers, and that they have stepped back from making deep cuts to essential bus service subsidies.

"However, there are still several key spending proposals that Greens believe will hit the city hard.

"We will work alongside the other political groups to try to stop to stop the most savage of the cuts proposed.

"Specifically, we will seek to protect:

- Local day care services facing £200,000 worth of cuts

- Funding for home to school transport for children with special needs, set to reduce by more than £300,000

- Bus subsidies which face almost £100,000 worth of cuts

- Youth Offending team services facing a £126,000 cut in funding

"To protect these vital services, we will look to make savings elsewhere.

"We hope to scrap or reduce the extra £100,000 allocated to paint the seafront railings, the £100,000 given over to fund grass mowing in the city, the £500,000 funding allocated for developing a new transport model and the £500,000 allocated to improving the seafront more generally.

"Ultimately, to meet government obligations, the council budget will have to deliver over £12m in cuts and see over 50 redundancies.

"Our job has to be damage limitation," concluded Keith. 

The Tory proposals in full can be seen at:

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=120&MId=1994

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

A motion welcoming the neighbourhood-based approach to policing employed in Sussex and calling on the Chief Constable to make sure it is unaffected received the unanimous backing of all councillors

Cllr Ben Duncan, who speaks on Policing for the Greens' and is a member of the Sussex Police Authority, said: "The Chief Constable has warned that we face a cash shortfall of about £35million over the next five years - thanks to paltry government funding and a desire to keep Council Tax bills down.

"While Greens want to see the government commit to better funding for local policing, this doesn't look likely.

"That means Sussex Police must to do all they can to protect neighbourhood policing with whatever money's available.

"I am delighted that all councillors have backed my call to send a clear message to Sussex Police: stop the cuts, even if that means spending less money on other areas of policing or having the political courage to raise Council Tax by a few pence a week to foot the bill.

"Of course times are tough economically but people want to see more neighbourhood-based policing with visible, local police stations at the heart of their communities. That's the position we have made clear today."

A final decision on the police budget for 2010-11, and what it means for policing in Brighton and Hove, will be taken in Chichester on February 11th.

Cllr Duncan has submitted a budget amendment calling for an increase in the budget for 'bottom-up' neighbourhood policing.

The notice of motion is available at: http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Published/C00000117/M00002085/AI00012068/$100128NM04NeighbourhoodPolicingGrnGrp.docA.ps.pdf

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

Speaking today, Caroline, who is Euro-MP for the South East including Brighton has said "The disruption First Capital Connect has caused to commuters has been immense. Over the cold snap, a third of FCC trains were cancelled, causing real inconvenience to peoples work and personal lives. I use the Brighton to London service regularly, and have seen first hand the extent of the havoc. This incompetence, caused by poor management, is a breach of their franchise agreement. I have written to Lord Adonis asking him to revoke FCC's franchise."

Caroline, who hopes to become MP for Brighton Pavilion constituency, continued: "Train fares in England are some of the highest in Europe. Greens would bring trains under public ownership, ensuring better service and subsidised fares. This would provide a real alternative to those wanting to leave their car at home."

Ian Davey, Green parliamentary candidate for Hove constituency and Transport spokesperson for the Green group of Councillors, said: "First Capital Connect seem to have lost control. First there was the furore over staff being expected to work overtime and rest days, and then the total lack of control over train service with the arrival of snow. This cannot continue."

"I wholeheartedly support Caroline in calling for an end to the FCC franchise. The Green Party believes that the rail system, including track and operators, needs to be publicly owned to stop the kinds of problems we have seen with FCC."

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.