Local elections: media squeezes and political styles

Rupert Read (Norwich, The Green Party): So, it's Boris. Gulp.

I'm not looking forward to Boris Johnson's Mayoralty, partly for reasons of personal familiarity with his political methods (as indicated here). But one has to congratulate him on the audacity of having stood, and won - a year ago, him winning seemed a very distant prospect indeed.

In terms of the Greens' performance in the London elections: Sian Berry has made a superb impact, establishing the Green Party clearly in the minds of the public and the media as the fourth Party of British politics. A real highlight of the campaign for me was the Polling Day endorsement by the Indy of her for Mayor.

And we have easily held onto our two Assembly Members - just rewards for the estimable Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson.

Nevertheless, it is very clear that we (and, far more so, the Lib Dems) have been squeezed by the overwhelming attention on whether it would be Boris or Ken who would win. If there hadn't been a squeeze, then there is little doubt that we would have won many more Mayoral 1^st preference votes, which would have saved our deposit, and that we would have gained an additional Assembly seat. Too bad that the media typically didn't trouble to inform voters that the electoral system (both for the Mayor, with two preferences, and moreover for the Assembly, with the List system) in London of course should have meant that there was no need for such a squeeze.

People had the chance to vote for whoever they wished. But my experience was that many voters didn't grasp this, unless it was explicitly explained to them, in person. So, many people will have voted for Ken 1^st, to keep Boris out, not realising that a second preference for Siân would not be registered, or even fearing that a second preference for Siân would count against Ken, and thus not putting down any second preference at all. The same 'logic' carried over to the Assembly election.

There is an urgent need for better civics education - at school, and via the media - so that electorates in future can vote for what they want - which is supposed to be the central point of proportional representation - rather than voting according to the non-logic of the 'two horse race.'

Turning to happier news: I was privileged to be present at a historic moment at Thursday night's count, here in Norwich. The Green Party has become the first ever Official Opposition on a Principal Authority Council in Britain. I feel exhausted, my feet hurt from pounding the pavement: but the exhilaration and the pride remain. For a political animal, there is little to rival the ecstasy of an election well won.

Why did we - why do we - do so well here? A lot of is down to nothing more than strong organising on the ground, which can be replicated anywhere in the country with enough leadership and effort. Some of it is down to running on our record of conscientious work as Councillors and of having a number of achievements to our name, even while we have been in opposition. But in terms of what resonated most on the doorstep: I found that quite a lot of people were coming our way because of our cleaner style of politics. I repeatedly heard comments from potential Green voters along the lines of "It is refreshing that you don't spin or manipulate in your leaflets", or "It seems that all Labour and the Libdems do is to attack each other and you. Whereas you tell us what is going on, and let us make our own minds up." I am proud that the electorate by and large trust us Greens, and it gives me hope for the future of politics.

What's next for we Norwich Greens? I honestly believe that the sky's the limit. I myself am hoping to become Eastern Region's first Green MEP next year. And Labour's Charles Clarke M.P. now has very serious reason to worry about us...