Haringey Green Party is supporting a community campaign to end the use of bully bailiffs in our borough. 

The use of bailiffs remains widespread in Haringey, with thousands of council tax debts passed onto bailiffs every year in this borough alone.

This is despite the Council introducing an ‘Ethical Debt Reduction Policy’ two years ago which promised to protect people from bailiffs.

Data provided by Haringey Council shows that bailiffs are used most frequently in the most deprived parts of the borough.

ACORN Haringey is a community union leading the campaign, and over 25 local organisations have signed their open letter, including food banks, trade unions and community leaders.

A number of councils have already decided to end the use of bailiffs, including Southwark Council and Brighton & Hove Council just last month.

ACORN Haringey say: “It is time for Haringey Council to change course. With the rocketing cost of living pushing more and more residents to the point of insolvency, this is more urgent than ever.

“We call upon Haringey Council to cease using bailiffs to collect council tax debts, and to focus instead on working with struggling residents to agree affordable repayment plans.

“We call upon Haringey Council to ban the bailiffs.”

Haringey Green Party is proud to support this campaign and encourages all residents to sign their petition here.

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Residents of the borough will have an opportunity to elect their first Green Party councillors in May 2026, with the candidate selection process due to begin in the coming weeks.

Haringey Green Party co-chairs Pamela Harling and Colin Ettinger were in attendance at The All-Good Bookshop in Wood Green, where members and activists reflected on how to turn national momentum into local success.

“I’ve taken part in several general elections for the Green Party and I can tell you that, this time, it was stunningly different,” said Harling, who praised the central strategy that secured four Green MPs.

Hopes are high locally following record results in the constituencies of Tottenham and Hornsey and Friern Barnet during the recent general election, where the Greens saw a 14 and 10 percent swing respectively.

In 2022, the party had come a mere 113 votes away from getting a councillor elected in Haringey, with Ettinger suggesting that a greater number of volunteers would be crucial to winning this time around.

“This isn’t glamorous work that we do; it isn’t high tech… it’s leafleting, knocking on doors,” he explained. “It does sound very old-fashioned, but the proof is in the pudding.”

Wards and constituencies with a high degree of such activity tend to see a surge in votes, as was the case in North Herefordshire, where some residents claimed to have never been visited by canvassers before the Greens arrived.

Although candidates are yet to be selected, preliminary door-knocking sessions will take place in the near future to determine which issues are of the most importance to local residents.

Harling sympathised that door-knocking can sound daunting to first-timers, but assured that conversations on the doorstep tend to be brief and that the experience can be “very exciting”.

The candidate selection process has not yet started, but those seeking a target position were informed that it requires someone willing and able to make a long-term commitment to the relevant ward.

Greens for Palestine co-founder and Haringey Green Party’s Volunteer Co-Ordinator Jo Dowbor said: “Let’s not forget: we’re not campaigning to get votes and simply get elected, but to get elected and help our local communities.”

Attendees acknowledged the importance of listening to concerns that go beyond the borough, with Israel’s genocide in Gaza continuing to be at the forefront of many people’s minds.

A decision was made to introduce a regular action day on the first Sunday of each month, with details to be shared on the inaugural event via Action Network in due course.

Lastly, local members were reminded that their monthly fee is paid to the national Green Party and does not necessarily go towards activities in Haringey.

Therefore, setting up a monthly donation – however small – directly with the branch is both encouraged and greatly appreciated, particularly as we prepare for such a vital campaign.

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Jo Dowbor is a Green Party officer of Argentine, Polish, and British origin. She grew up in the South American countryside until moving to the UK in 2017. Unable to afford university in the UK, she studied French in her final year of high school and moved to France in 2018. In 2021, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in History, specializing in the Middle East, from the Sorbonne. During her time in Paris, she became frustrated by the inaccurate media portrayal of the gilets jaunes and by police repression, leading her to volunteer as a political journalist, writing articles in English, French, and Spanish for an international audience. She also became a passionate human rights activist and began to show interest in politics. In 2021, she returned to London to be close to her relatives based in Haringey.

She works full-time as a conference producer and will obtain a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from King’s College London later this summer, studying part-time to accommodate her full-time job. She has also volunteered for various charities since 2021, assisting disabled people, the homeless, refugees, and asylum seekers. Last year, she became a Green Party officer in Haringey and co-founded the organization Greens for Palestine. Her authenticity and genuine commitment to improving the world gained her swift support both within and outside the Green Party. She identifies as an eco-socialist and has been a vegetarian, environmentalist, and animal rights advocate since childhood. She is also a survivor of domestic violence, which she says has made her more self-aware and empathetic towards other people’s struggles.

“I am standing for councillor because the world will only change if we fight for it. Many of us say politics is corrupt but are unwilling to do anything about it. As Motaz, the Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, recently said in his video: ‘I don’t want your likes, I want action’. I am tired of seeing our minorities neglected by both Labour and Tories. I am tired of seeing how eclipsed the residents from Campsbourne Estate feel in comparison to their wealthy neighbours. I am tired of seeing how our Jewish and Muslim communities suffer in silence while the government uses their struggles to their advantage. I am tired of having worked hard all my life and still struggling to achieve what I want because of the simple fact of where I grew up. We need a new approach to politics, where hard-working, strong, but also compassionate people, take the lead. The Green Party has become the true voice for change, offering bolder policies than any other mainstream party. It is our last hope to change the system, hear the voices of the most marginalized, and save the world from climate destruction. I will work hard for the people of Hornsey to provide you with a better life and a fairer and greener ward. It will not be easy, but we must try. This 4th of July, vote Green.”

The post Jo Dowbor Announced as Green Party Candidate for Hornsey in the Upcoming By-elections appeared first on Haringey Green Party.

Several Haringey Green Party members have attended all national and several local marches, marching under a Greens for Palestine banner.

We have been honoured to be joined on various marches by Palestinians and others from the region, and a vocal Jewish bloc, all of whom are united in their calls for an immediate cessation of what constitutes crimes against humanity.

These are not hate marches, but expressions of desire for peace and justice. Protesters from all walks of life are united by their justified outrage at the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and the wholesale destruction of Gaza.

We are proud of the unifying approach our party takes, working with Muslim Green and Jewish Green liberation groups, and standing firmly against the two evils of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The post HGP’S STANCE ON GAZA appeared first on Haringey Green Party.

In the local elections in the rest of the country, the Greens won our greatest ever number of council seats.

We now have more than 800 councillors, nationwide, and are the largest party in Bristol, Stroud and Hastings.
Sadiq Khan has won a third term as Mayor of London and Green Assembly members will working hard to hold him to account. There are many of his promises they will be focused on: from acting on the climate emergency, to building 40,000 new council homes and making public transport more affordable.

The post Local elections results – thank you! appeared first on Haringey Green Party.

Although not a target area for the Greens – those are Brighton Pavilion, Bristol Central, Waveney Valley and North Herefordshire – there remains significant interest in who will contest this prolific London seat.

The incumbent David Lammy, Labour, has represented Tottenham since June 2000, but has been criticised for his delay in calling for a ceasefire to the Israel/Gaza conflict despite currently serving as Shadow Foreign Secretary.

In a personal statement released to Green Party members during the candidate selection process, Craig said that he “won’t be shy about my support for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as an end to arming Israel”.

The candidate for Tottenham is a Green Party member who currently volunteers as External Communications Officer for the Haringey branch.

Hailing from Bournemouth, Craig moved to north London in March 2020, initially living in Wood Green before moving to Finsbury Park, where he currently resides.

He went to a non-selective comprehensive school and studied Journalism at The University of Sheffield, with his current job being in the media. He is LGBTQ+ and the first generation of his family to be educated to degree level.

His campaign accounts will be launched nearer to the general election period, but he can currently be found on X (formerly Twitter) by anyone who wishes to get in touch or follow his activity.

An official candidate email address will also be shared in due course.

Craig’s full personal statement, which was sent to members during the candidate selection period, is available to read below:

“Thank goodness that the general election is almost here! I know I’m not the only one hungry for change in politics. I’d like to play a role in delivering a sorely needed fresh start as the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Tottenham.

Here, I see an opportunity to boost local awareness of our incredible organisation, at a time when voters are actively seeking an alternative to the tired politics of yesterday.

I’ll be honest with you: I wasn’t born in Tottenham. Hailing from a working-class family way down south, the idea of moving to London always felt like an implausible fantasy. I feel lucky to be here every day and I’m keen to fight for the community that I’ve called home for several years.

If chosen to run for this constituency, I will speak with residents, participate in local hustings, engage members of the press and curate a social media presence to ensure that the exciting future envisioned by the Green Party is projected far and wide.

Now, more than ever, we need politicians who are unafraid to call for green policies, public services, human rights and social justice. If chosen to run for Tottenham, these would be key tenets of my campaign.

I firmly believe that one method by which we can fix the major issues facing our country right now is to get more Greens in Parliament. Therefore, I view this role as a major responsibility and promise to take my duties as a candidate seriously.

With experience in media production, communication and public speaking, I believe that I have the skills necessary to convey our core messages online, in person or on the printed page.

No, I’m not a career politician – and I will happily sing that from the rooftops. I think people have had enough of those. Instead, I pride myself on being approachable, personable and grounded, which are all qualities I would seek to display from campaign materials to door-knocking.

Everyone should feel that they have a reachable representative to champion their concerns to relevant authorities, including the government of the day.

But people also want to know that their local candidate has a fine-tuned moral compass, which is why I won’t be shy about my support for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as an end to arming Israel. The ongoing destruction and death in the region will not bring lasting peace.

Ultimately, I hope to be a voice of reason. No matter what the right-wing media tries to tell us, it is rational to want clean air, efficient (and free) health and social care, safe schools and a peaceful world with a sustainable future. That’s just common sense.”

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The Green Party’s Zoë Garbett launched her campaign to become London Mayor this week, outlining key policies at an event in Bethnal Green.

She hopes to build on the strong performance by Siân Berry in 2021 (who placed third in the race for City Hall), with a victory that would block Labour’s Sadiq Khan from another term in office.

Of course, it won’t be easy, especially following the government’s decision to replace the long-used Supplementary Vote system with First Past the Post – which the Greens have previously called to retire.

Earlier this month, Khan attempted to use this regrettable development to frighten Garbett’s supporters into sending their votes in his direction. However, the Green candidate offered a persuasive counter.

She told The Independent: “If people want to vote Green, they can – and should! The Green Party has consistently come third in London and we are a growing force nationally.

“A Green mayor would be much more ambitious tackling the issues that really matter to voters: dealing with the housing crisis, making our city more affordable and a more accountable police service.

Garbett added: “Sadiq Khan should be focusing on his record – and the fact he isn’t suggests there isn’t much to be talking about. If he wants people to vote for him, he and the Labour Party need to be better.”

Read on for more details on why Zoë Garbett is the right choice for London on Thursday 2nd May – and how you can help her campaign.

Why should I vote Zoë Garbett for London Mayor?

Residents of London know all too well how expensive it is to live here – a problem exacerbated in recent years by the rising cost of everything from food and energy to transport and private renting.

If elected as mayor, Zoë Garbett would make the city more affordable with a slate of policies designed to alleviate the burdens currently being placed on working people.

Here are the headline commitments from her campaign launch this week:

• Transport: Extend free bus travel to under 22s and people seeking asylum. Plus, reinstate free pre-9am travel for Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card holders.
• Education: Provide free school meals for primary and secondary school children in a much-needed expansion of Khan’s existing policy.
• Renting: Seek a better deal for those navigating London’s hostile rental market by setting up a commission that could introduce a rent freeze – and work towards bringing them down.
• Housing: Buy back homes to increase the inadequate stock and build better, sustainable properties, which will minimise the cost of bills for residents as well as their environmental impact.

At the event, Garbett said: “The current Labour Mayor of London has failed to get to grips with the affordability crisis facing our city, and nationally, Labour are saying they will continue many of the Conservatives’ disastrous economic policies.

“Both the Conservatives and Labour have let London down. London desperately needs a Mayor that understands the issues that most Londoners are facing… We need a Green Mayor; now is the time.”

How can I help Zoë Garbett’s campaign for London Mayor?

There are several ways in which you can help Green Party candidate Zoë Garbett become London Mayor.

Leafleting

Consider getting in touch with representatives from your local Green Party about leafleting, which is still regarded as one of the most effective methods of political campaigning.

Of course, we are always conscious of the amount of paper we use, but don’t underestimate the difference this can make in getting voters to polling stations and persuading them to choose Green.

Amelia Womack, former Deputy Leader of the Green Party, explained: “I can tell you from first-hand experience of hundreds of Green wins – leafleting is vital. If we don’t do enough of it, we lose. It really is that simple.

“In reality, the choice we face when it comes to leafleting is between leaving voters ignorant of who we are, and without hope that things can change in their neighbourhood… or showing them why voting Green will be good for them, for their community and for their future.”

As we don’t have billionaire backers, the Green Party is reliant on the good will of its supporters to get the latest campaign materials through letterboxes. Can you help us?

Check out Haringey Green Party’s events for our next local leafleting session – we can guarantee friendly faces, but not necessarily sunny weather.

Alternatively, find a list of London-wide events here or get in touch with Zoë’s team for an invitation to her WhatsApp community, which offers regular updates on volunteering opportunities.

Sharing

Although it hasn’t supplanted more traditional methods just yet, spreading the word about Zoë Garbett on social media is hugely appreciated and can still make a valuable difference.

Please consider reposting content from her campaign on your preferred site(s), with regular updates currently being shared in the following places:

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok

Engaging with posts on these platforms (such as by liking and commenting) can also help them spread further, courtesy of those mysterious algorithms that kindly assemble our daily feeds.

Donating

A crowdfunding page will be live until 5pm on Friday 12th April 2024 for anyone who wishes to make a monetary donation to Zoë Garbett’s mayoral campaign.

Anything you can spare to get us towards our ambitious target would be greatly appreciated – and spent wisely in our mission to get London its first Green mayor.

Donate to Zoë Garbett for London Mayor

The post Green Party’s Zoë Garbett launches London mayoral campaign – how you can help appeared first on Haringey Green Party.

Haringey Green Party has responded to the recent announcement of the closure of Saint Ann’s Road GP practice

A large privately-managed GP practice is up for sale, causing a lot of stress and uncertainty for residents in St Ann’s ward.

St Ann’s Road Surgery, managed by American multinational healthcare corporation Centre (via their British subsidiary Operose) has put the practice up for sale, as reported by the Financial Times. The local community as well as patient groups have always criticized the deal, which goes back to 2017 and now leaves 16,000 patients in distress.

Green Party policy on this matter is very clear: We stand for maintaining a publicly funded, publicly provided health service, and oppose NHS privatization and treating healthcare as a market!

The post Saint Ann’s Road GP practice is up for sale appeared first on Haringey Green Party.

Haringey & Enfield Green Party members have selected Dr. Katie Knight as their candidate for the Enfield & Haringey constituency seat for the London Assembly election.

Katie Knight, a doctor says: ‘I’m delighted to have been selected as the Green Party Greater London Assembly candidate for Enfield and Haringey. For most of my adult life, I’ve lived in the two boroughs, recently moving to Enfield after many years in Tottenham; I also work locally as a doctor. I love the vibrancy and distinctive personalities of the area, from the bustle of Green Lanes to the calm of Walthamstow Wetlands and the green spaces of North Enfield.

I’ve been a Green Party member for many years and joined Enfield Green Party as a Social Media Officer in 2022. I believe that the Green Party is the strongest force for change in our broken political system, and its fundamental driving principle of equality is something to strive for. While the Green Party has a focus on the environment, it has strong policies in every field and it is only by doing the best thing for our planet that we have a hope of improving lives.

As a doctor, I understand the risk that climate change poses to our health and well-being. I have played a key role within the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in highlighting the risks of air pollution, and lobbying for clean air to be recognised as a human right. I have worked extensively within my hospital to make healthcare delivery more sustainable, and as a member of the Enfield Climate Action Forum, I have used my professional voice to advocate for the importance of green spaces for improving health.

A Green voice for Enfield and Haringey in the GLA would bring a fresh perspective to urban planning in our borough and London as a whole. If elected I would vote for cleaner energy alternatives that benefit health housing in Enfield and Haringey and the inequality this perpetuates, as well as the threat to our Green Belt land from developers. I also believe that our boroughs need better public transport infrastructure and a transport strategy that considers all road users on an equal footing.

I would be honoured to receive your vote on 2 May 2024!’

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Haringey Green Party has responded to the recent council consultation on recycling.

We asked the council to up its ambition and aim for 60% (rather than 50%) recycling of the things we dispose of (which is Green Party policy).

We would like to see a lot more information available to residents about what to recycle and about where our recycled materials go and how much they are worth, with regular updates on progress.

The council website already contains a lot of useful information but communication needs to not just be through written material but through face to face events and stalls at local festivals. We need to talk about how we tackle recycling together.

We want to see every Haringey resident have access to all waste collections, whatever their housing type and we want the council to think about innovative ways of encouraging recycling, looking outside the borough at good practice elsewhere. These could take the form of community give and take days, or resident initiatives involving schools and community groups.

There are so many more ways we can engage locally with the disposal of recyclable materials and what happens to them, giving residents more information and inspiration to reuse more, reduce waste and recycle as much as we can.

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