He joins the Green campaign on 15 and 16 July
Peter Tatchell speaks
Public meeting
7pm Wednesday July 15th
The Norman Centre, Bignold Road, Norwich.
Now is the time for disaffected Labour voters to support the Green Party and its Norwich North candidate, says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell
Below are advance excerpts from his Wednesday night speech in Norwich.
Peter Tatchell will say:
“Labour has lost its heart and soul. It took us into an illegal war in Iraq. It has eroded hard won civil liberties, commercialised public services like education and heath, and is backing new nuclear and coal-fired power stations, to the detriment of the environment.
“The Greens have replaced Labour as the most progressive party in British politics. We Greens are the only party that wholeheartedly defends public services and working people.
“I urge disillusioned Labour voters to come over to the Greens. Don’t give your vote to a government that takes you for granted and has betrayed Labour values. Support a party that stands for a fairer, more just and free society – the Green Party.
“I know Rupert Read, the Green Party candidate for Norwich North. He is a personal friend, and an intelligent, passionate defender of liberty, justice, peace and the environment.
“He’s got vision. He knows a better world is possible and, as your MP, he would work with real commitment to achieve it.
“Rupert is a man of the people. That’s what we need at Westminster. We don’t want more machine politicians churned out by the head offices of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
“Why send another Labour, Tory or Lib Dem clone to Westminster? Give the Greens a chance. Parliament needs some Green MPs, not just more MPs from the old, grey, establishment parties. There are enough of them already. MPs from the big three parties are yesterday’s men.
“Gordon Brown has slashed interest rates to savers and allowed people’s pensions to be eroded. He is closing post offices.
“Labour plans to waste over £120 billion of public money on Trident nuclear missiles, two new super aircraft carriers, ID cards, new motorway building, the war in Afghanistan and the botched computerisation of the NHS.
“The Greens would cancel this waste. We’d spend the £120 billion on new council housing, better pensions, improved public services, renewable energy and cheaper, safer and cleaner public transport.
“Parliament needs a grassroots, anti-politician like Rupert, not another party establishment career politician. That’s why I am supporting his campaign to be elected as the Green MP for Norwich North.
“Fed up with the established parties and corrupt MPs? It is time for change. Register your anger by voting Green – for a new, clean politics.
“There are already plenty of Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs. Electing another MP from these big-three established parties won’t make any difference.
“But electing Rupert Read as a Green MP for Norwich North will make history. He would be Britain’s first ever Green MP. It would put Norwich on the map big-time,” said Mr Tatchell.