Newly elected leader to make first speech at Green Party conference

“@ChazzaB

Should have gone to spec savers.”

“@green_man

Your naivety is astounding sometimes.

Can you put your magic show on youtube please?”

“@ BCFCfinker - "The only wages that the mayor 'might' be able to affect is council workers, the private sector will just ignore it."
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No, the council does massive business with the private sector - a canny Mayor should be able to exert influence over how responsible and fair they are as private sector employers as a result. In short the Mayor can make it plain that the council wants to do business most with responsible employers who pay decent wages. This is hard headed, pragmatic politics not idealism.

Bristol as a whole will benefit from a reduction in income inequality and an increase in fairness.
The public in the city will benefit if cuts in public services can be reduced or stopped. Growing income inequality and austerity economics aren't working and cant work - they have brought about a less stable, secure and sustainable society. Look at the evidence here on the effects of inequality and the benefits of tackling it. http://tinyurl.com/c4sx724 Aiming for a less unequal society is practical politics in Sweden, Japan and Norway...

Its pretty lazy to throw labels like 'idealist' around - and its inaccurate given that its Labour, Lib Dem and Tory politicians who continue to attempt exponential economic growth and endless population growth on a finite planet with dwindling resources, whilst Greens have developed a new and sustainable economics.”

“@green_man

A living wage aka minimum wage. The only wages that the mayor 'might' be able to affect is council workers, the private sector will just ignore it. This in turn will create a two tier wage structure in Bristol, create resentment and division. Umm, it is rather cynical isn't it. You and I disagree about who's being cynical.

Just who benefits from the following (taken from the little green book - all hail the revolution) i.e. how does this help the majority of Bristolians?:

"""Bristol City Council should lead by example and lend its name to an award offered to employers who pay all employees the Living Wage; currently £7.20 per hour but adjusted regularly in line with inflation."""

"""The Green Party is fundamentally opposed to the cuts to public services that have resulted in spiralling unemployment, hitting hardest the 99% who are not responsible for the financial crisis."""

Let's face it, the green manifesto reads like a communist manifesto but with some green stuff added to it. You are having a laugh. Even the German greens eventually figured out that they had to be more pragmatic about getting to power. The Uk greens are just going through an idealistic phase at the moment but one day, they will figure it out.

You're an idealist green_man and strangely I like you for it (I liked Tony Benn as well). Your ideals however, well they belong is story books.”

“@BCFCfinker - "*Being a responsible employer by paying (at least) the 'living wage' rate

Rather parasitic me thinks i.e. it appears almost to be a bribe i.e. vote for us and we'll see you Ok, nudge nudge wink wink."
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What cynical, unjustifiable rubbish. Typical of the kind of view the finker often spouts ie it has no basis in fact. The living wage policy is advocated by those who believe in the creation of a fairer society, one where basic living needs are better and more consistently met and unjustifiable income differences between higher and lower earners are reduced. Those advocating this policy are appealing to all voters to support it - not just lower earners - because they believe a fairer society is a better, healthier and more sustainable one.”

“BCFCfinker:
"*Improving transport planning by finding out where people actually go (!)

I just don't know what to say. It might just be me but it just appears to be someone stating the obvious and someone is trying to reinvent the wheel. "

It's not just you, and it is stating the obvious – hence the (!). But the fact is that public transport planning in this city is done without a clear database of what journeys people really make – particularly for journeys through the city centre. It should be a fundamental requirement. That's why it's good to see it in Daniella's mayoral manifesto. I hope we'll see other candidates promising the same thing , when they get round to it.”

“Good to see the Greens can still **** off the city fans.”

“I agree with Tiny_Steve and stockwoodpete. Given the huge and interwoven economic, social and environmental problems the country and the world has, new political thinking is now more needed than ever. New political movements, like the Green Movement, do come along and new parties do get into government at a range of levels. The labour movement developed over the last 100 yrs, so there is no reason why other movements and parties cant do the same or better.

The Green Party addresses the real world where other parties wish 'for exponential economic growth and endless population growth on a finite planet with dwindling resources'. Greens are making political progress - they have their first MP in Caroline Lucas in addition to Green members of the Scottish Parliament, they are now runnning the council in Brighton and Hove, have two MEPs (Jean Lambert in London and Keith Taylor in the South East), and have two councillors in Bristol (Gus Hoyt in Ashley and Tess Green in Southville) in addition to hundreds more on other councils around the country.”

“The greens manifesto is a fantasy list.

Whereas the other parties agenda of wishing for exponential economic growth and endless population growth on a finite planet with dwindling resources is fully grounded in reality.”

“*The creation of a 'bond' market to help trigger a 'green new deal' for the city, offering good jobs and public benefits.

No doubt a 'build and they will come' philosophy. Wishful thinking.

*Improving opportunities for local businesses to bid for council contracts

I think there is a law that will prevent this. So the Uk will change to law because the greens think it's a good idea. Wishful thinking

*Being a responsible employer by paying (at least) the 'living wage' rate

Rather parasitic me thinks i.e. it appears almost to be a bribe i.e. vote for us and we'll see you Ok, nudge nudge wink wink.

*Where appropriate, encouraging BIDs to revive local centres

When's appropriate and when did the greens understand what business is?

*Improving transport planning by finding out where people actually go (!)

I just don't know what to say. It might just be me but it just appears to be someone stating the obvious and someone is trying to reinvent the wheel.

*Cancelling the local spend on the S. Bristol Link and BRT2 Long Ashton – City Centre

Ummm, sounds like the Bristol we all know. Spend shed loads of money and cancel.

*Driving forward a comprehensive integrated transport hub at Temple Meads

So cancel above and start again. Definitely the Bristol we all know well.

*Setting the standard for buses (accessibility, driver training, real-time info, smart ticketting)

Definitely reinventing the wheel.

*A safer, 20mph city, along with centre pedestrianisation and improved cycling provision

Personally, I have no problem with a 20mph limit. Situation normal for Bristol.

*Initiatives to improve the quality of homes in private and rented sectors,

You just couldn't make it up.

*Improving land and market access for self-builders and housing co-ops

That will be interesting. There will be all sorts of opposition to build anything and people building their own houses, interesting times ahead. Housing co-ops, is that cronyism?

*Council Tax incentives to bring empty homes back into use

Let us rent your house out and someone will pay the council tax. Damn, they are geniuses, just why hasn't anyone thought of that one before.


Classic stuff.”