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Eastern Region Green Party is one of the most successful in the UK and is poised to gain its first Green MEP at the European Elections in June this year!

From just 2 councillors in 1999, the Greens in Eastern Region have made gains at every subsequent election and now have 29 principal authority councillors including the largest group in the UK (13) which became the official opposition on Norwich City Council in May 2008.

There are Green Councillors in each of the 6 counties that make up the region. Several Councillors and senior activists from the Labour Party have joined the Green Party in the last few years. Among these are: Simon Sedgwick-Jell (former Labour leader, Cambridge City Council 1990-1994) and Cllr  Mark Ereira (Labour candidate Bury St. Edmunds constituency 1997 and 2001).

Eastern Region Green Party is gaining new members and is actively involved in many campaigns, including supporting renewable energy projects - whilst campaigning against new nuclear power stations - opposing the expansion of Stansted, Luton and regional airports and fighting Government-backed closures of post offices.

The Greens have also been fighting excessive top down Government imposed development targets whilst at the same time working for improved social housing, led by local authorities.

Successful campaigns and Green Councillor actions have included securing NHS dentistry, boosting household recycling collections, ensuring that new developments meet high sustainability standards and saving street trees from the axe. Green Councillors have also been active in opposing damaging road building proposals whilst supporting better public transport and investment in cycling routes.

The Green Party Lead candidate for the European elections in Eastern Region is Rupert Read, one of the successful Norwich City Councillors.

As well as working within the region, Rupert has been vocal on international issues, including the Irish No vote and the conflict in Georgia.

Rupert said: "The Euro-elections are by 'proportional representation' - and as a result, given our strength on the ground in much of this part of the country, we have a tremendous opportunity to elect this Region's first-ever Green Party MEP, next June. It wouldn't be before time: I can't wait to get my teeth into the job of stopping unnecessary EU spending on destructive mega-transport schemes and on subsidising agribusiness behemoths.

"A stronger team of Green Parliamentarians in Brussels would help to clean up the act of the EU, by for instance exposing the shameless lobbying activities of many big corporations and of politicians from the 'grey' Parties. As an MEP, I would also prioritise the EU taking stronger positive action on environmental problems that cross national frontiers, and would play an active role in a Middle East policy that used the EU's economic might to increase pressure for peace."

Rupert added: "If you want to have a clean Green Parliamentarian to represent you, then please support my campaign. The Green Party relies on contributions from concerned individuals; we don't take money from tainted sources! You can help us make history, at the 2009 European Elections, here in the East of England."