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Steve Hayes, a former Green Party councillor in Wirral, has issued a letter urging people not to repeat the mistake he made by voting for the Greens this May.
In the letter, Hayes says he initially joined the Greens after being swayed by their promises on the climate emergency.
However, he said that as a Wirral councillor, he witnessed first-hand the damage caused by the Conservative government’s cuts to the area and saw the Green Party playing political games instead of working cooperatively.
Hayes writes that he believes that a vote for any other party than Labour will enable the Tories to sell off green spaces and remove services without conscience and that only Labour can beat the Tories in Wirral and is urging people to use all three of their votes for Labour at the upcoming elections.
Hayes’ letter warns that a vote for the Greens is a vote for a Tory-controlled council, which he finds a frightening possibility given the strong Tory support in parts of Wirral.
Mr Hayes’ letter to Wirral residents is in full, below:
My name is Steve Hayes, and I was previously elected as a Green Party Councillor in Wirral.
Thanks for taking the time to read this – I hope to prevent people from making the same mistake I made.
I initially joined the Greens after reading their promises about the climate emergency. In retrospect, I was too easily swayed into thinking they were the party with the answers.
As a Wirral Councillor, I realised first-hand how bad the Conservative cuts are to our area. For every pound in funding Wirral used to get, this Conservative government now gives us just 15 pence.
I also saw close-up Labour councillors fighting hard to keep services running despite huge Tory cuts. Sadly, I also saw the Green Party playing political games instead of working co-operatively, aimed only at promoting the “Green Party Brand”. Often, they would try and take credit for things they hadn’t done, like the regeneration development plans in Birkenhead or new investment coming into Seacombe and Bromborough. These ideas and plans were formed under Labour long before Green Councillors were elected.
Voting for any other party will enable the Tories to control the Council, allowing them to sell off our Green Belt and green spaces and remove many services without conscience. Labour has pledged to maintain our Green Belt and green spaces and is more committed to the environment than the Greens.
The Greens’ targeted efforts to take only Labour seats will result in a Tory-controlled council.
Realistically, only Labour can beat the Tories in Wirral. A vote for the Greens will enable the Tories to take control of the Council. A vote for the Greens is a vote for a Tory-controlled council, and I believe that is a frightening possibility as Tory support in wealthier parts of Wirral is still very strong.
Please don’t repeat my mistake. At the upcoming elections on May 4, please use all your three votes for Labour, who I believe is the better party and can stop the Tories from controlling Wirral Council.
Make your vote count! Use ALL THREE of your votes for LABOUR.
Steve Hayes, Former Wirral Green Party Councillor
Image: Steve Hayes
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