Although Lewisham Deptford has traditionally been a safe Labour seat, the constituency delivered the second highest Green vote in the country at the last General Election. Since then Greens have made major advances. In the 2006 elections for the London Borough of Lewisham, Green representation rose from just one councillor to six, allowing them to become an official Group on the council. One of the wards they won saw the Green vote rise from 16% to 46% in a single election – showing that effective targeting and enthusiastic campaigning can overturn large Labour majorities in spectacular fashion. Standing in Lewisham Deptford again is Darren Johnson, Green London Assembly Member and Leader of the Greens on Lewisham Council. Darren has a clear track record of winning elections and last year secured the highest vote of any councillor on the entire council. In a £150 million Green budget package this year, Darren and his Assembly colleague Jenny Jones, secured millions of pounds to help people insulate their homes and extra cash to create new cycle lanes and safer routes for walkers. On Lewisham Council Darren and his Green colleagues are also making a big difference:
• securing extra funding for composting,
real nappy schemes and recycling
• getting extra cash for green energy in schools
• securing funding so that a groundbreaking
education project for traumatised refugee
children could continue
• overturning Labour’s plans to close the
local swimming pool
Lewisham Greens are mounting an all-out bid to get Darren elected to Westminster. Under the themes of taking action on climate change, protecting schools and hospitals and investing in peace, the Greens are offering a powerful alternative to the Government’s record.
Lewisham Deptford is a very mixed constituency with a high ethnic population, significant student population, areas of real deprivation as well as more comfortable areas. Deptford High Street is one of the few high streets in London that is predominantly made up of independent small shops. The constituency has a really thriving arts and music scene and former residents include Blur, Damien Hirst and Kate Bush – although it is one of the few London Boroughs not to have a single cinema. Goldsmiths College is in the constituency and a key influence on the life of the place – I am a Goldsmiths graduate myself.
Tell me how you first became involved with the Green Party?
I joined the Green Party in 1987. The Chernobyl disaster the previous year had a big impact on me. When I came across the Green Party’s manifesto I found it brought together all my key concerns into a coherent philosophy rather than just a rag-bag of unrelated issues. I have been active ever since.
When did you first become a councillor and what were the key points in that campaign?
I was first elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 and then elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002. In that election we campaigned on reducing traffic speeds, promoting renewable energy, building a new secondary school and providing more social housing.
Tell me how the Green Party has developed in Lewisham since you became a councillor? What are the main issues and main tactics that got you elected?
When I first moved to Lewisham in 1994 the local party was struggling. They had only managed to pull together four candidates for the local council elections, not stood anyone at all in the General Election. I could see from previous election results that there was huge potential in the borough if only it was realised. I encouraged the local party to adopt a target to win approach and slowly we built up membership, improved our campaigning and built up public support.
I was elected as our first councillor in 2002 and in 2006 we went up from one Green councillor to six. Our share of the vote across the constituency went up to 27%. Year-round activity through Target to Win – originally in a single ward and now spread across the parliamentary constituency has been key to our success.
When did you decide you wanted to stand as an MP?
By the time I first stood in Lewisham Deptford I didn’t just want to do it to make up the numbers or because no-one else wanted to - I did it because I wanted to make a difference as a Green MP and wanted to make a long-term commitment to winning the seat.
What do you think you could achieve as a Green MP?
I believe I have the skills and experience to represent the Green Party as one of its first MPs and I have a long-term commitment to this constituency. My priorities will be working on tackling climate change, scrapping Trident, eliminating poverty and ensuring decent schools and hospitals. I have made an impact as a local councillor and as a London Assembly member. Through a mixture of championing constituency issues, putting forward private members bills and acting as a Green watchdog in Westminster I know I could make a difference as a Green MP.
How is your campaign developing now? How are you persuading the electors of Lewisham to vote for you?
I was very proud of the campaign we fought at the last General Election and the energy and commitment shown by volunteers, not only from Lewisham but from around the country. I want us to do even better this time. As local councillors we engage with the local community in ways the previous Labour councillors hardly bothered with. This visibility on community issues is greatly enhancing our credibility locally, reinforced through regular newsletters going out to 35,000 homes across the constituency. What is really encouraging is the number of ordinary members of the public who are now coming forward to help our campaign.
HELP THE CAMPAIGN
To be successful we need your help:
• Delivering leaflets and newsletters
• Door-to-door canvassing
• Volunteering in our campaign shop which will be open 7 days a
week during the actual campaign period
• Telephone canvassing from the comfort of your own home
• Help on Polling day
If you can help please contact Lewisham Deptford Constituency Organiser, Sue Luxton
Email: sueluxton@yahoo.co.uk Phone: 020 8690 0658
Nearest Rail Station is Brockley (10 minutes from London Bridge).
Comfortable accommodation can be provided.
