Vote for what you believe in (From Gazette Series)

Vote for what you believe in

SIR - An anonymous Wotton resident writes that if the 245 Green Party supporters had voted Lib Dem in the last election they would not have a Tory in that ward (Gazette, July 2).

The writer might have noted that the same could be said in reverse in wards like Rodborough in Stroud where Greens missed a seat by only 64 or Nailsworth by 91 votes.

The writer goes onto recommend that "in the absence of proportional representation in the local elections" that we should vote tactically.

But surely people should be able to vote for what they believe in? We urgently need proportional representation at local and national levels to stop us being governed by councils and governments elected by a minority of voters - that is not democracy.

Although the Lib Dems have a green tinge, at the end of the day the Liberal Democrat economic policies, like Tory and Labour, are rooted in the desire to see ever more GDP growth and enhanced free trade between nations.

Many people see that a vote for these parties will not bring us closer to the radical changes we need. For the Greens real progress depends on the quality of the economic growth - not just the quantity. This is the only way we will get true sustainability, social justice and peace between and within nations.

Cllr Martin Whiteside, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Stroud, Claypits Lane, Lypiatt, Stroud.