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News : Norwich Greens contest Education Secretary's Commons Seat

Green WMD protestor released - 27 August.

 

Irene Willis a member of the Green Party's Regional Council who was jailed following direct action at a nuclear base in Suffolk released on Friday.

Irene Willis, who represents the Eastern region on the party's top strategy-making body, had been sentenced to 21 days after taking part in a non-violent protest at USAF Lakenheath. She and three other women had cut through the fence at the US nuclear base to expose that illegal US nuclear weapons were being stored there. The four were convicted of criminal damage (1).

Irene Willis is the latest Green to be released following a spate of direct action against British and US weapons of mass destruction. Two Green Party members of the Scottish Parliament were released from custody yesterday (Tuesday) following protests against nuclear weapons in Scotland (2).

Illegal nuclear weapons

Irene Willis's lawyer, Hugo Charlton, drew on section 47 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, which makes it a crime to possess nuclear weapons unless they are authorised. Charlton demanded disclosure by the prosecution in order to prove that there were, as asserted by the defendants, nuclear weapons on the base, and that the defendants were in fact - as they had pleaded - acting to prevent a crime.

Hugo Charlton commented today: "We argued that the possession of nuclear weapons without authorisation is a crime under the new law. As they will not admit that they have nuclear weapons, and therefore refuse to produce authorisation, the defendants were acting to stop a crime."

Mr Charlton, who is also the Green Party's home affairs spokesperson, continued: "In the trial, the British health and safety officer for the site admitted that he does not have access to large parts of the storage facilities. This means that he can not check whether the storage facilities are really safe."

Norwich Greens to contest Education Secretary's Commons seat

The Green Party has selected a 23-year-old Norwich Councillor and university student as its candidate for the next general election, in the constituency of Education Secretary Charles Clarke - the cabinet member responsible for controversial top-up fees.

Adrian Ramsay, a postgraduate student at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and one of five Greens on Norwich City Council, will stand in Clarke's constituency, Norwich South.

Cllr Ramsay comments: "This election should see a massive backlash against New Labour's disastrous higher education policy. Top-up fees will increase the burden of student debt and increase the gap in resources between richer and poorer universities"

"There are around 10,000 students living in the Norwich South constituency, most of whom will be registering their disapproval of top-up fees."(3)

"Labour wasn't listening to the majority of the population when they introduced top-up fees in their mid-term. Now people can make their voices heard at the ballot box, and hopefully the Green Party will benefit."

"A Wider disillusionment"

Councillor Ramsay, who was the youngest councillor to be elected in the city, will be challenging Clarke on a variety of issues including SATs, the Iraq war, public services and animal protection.

"The public's opposition to top-up fees is symptomatic of wider disillusionment with New Labour policies.

Ramsay continues: "The Government has concentrated its attention and money on waging an unwanted war with Iraq whilst completely neglecting to tackle climate change, animal protection and trade injustice - here and abroad."

Ramsay concludes: "I relish the opportunity to challenge Charles Clarke and New Labour both as a student, and as a concerned citizen of this country."

Notes to editors

1. Adrian Ramsay was first elected to Norwich City Council in May 2003 at the age of 21 and was this year re-elected with 49% of the vote in Norwich's Nelson Ward. Before being elected, Cllr Ramsay had already spent three years working hard in the ward, talking to people and canvassing on behalf of the Greens. He is also the Green Party's national spokesperson on planning and economic development and often represents the party in national media debates among young party political activists.

2. All five of the seats that the Green Party holds in Norwich are in wards located in Mr. Clarke's Norwich South constituency. The Green Party is a strong political force there and puts its success in the local elections down to effective work as local councillors on local issues and the Green Party's clear alternative policies to the Government on issues from Iraq and top-up fees to global trade rules and third world poverty.

3. Adrian Ramsay has spoken at a rally against top-up fees at UEA, persuaded Norwich City Council to pass a motion condemning top-up-fees and put the case against fees in the local and national media on many occasions.

Green WMD protestor released - Irene Willis a member of the Green Party's Regional Council who was jailed following direct action at a nuclear base in Suffolk released on Friday - 27 August.

 

Notes to editors

1. The four women were given conditional discharges but were ordered to pay what their barrister described as "punitive" costs of £500. Irene Willis Refused to pay the costs out of principle and was sentenced to 21 days, but is expected to be released early.

2. Green MSPs Mark Ballard and Patrick Harvie, along with other protestors, were released from police custody following their arrests at the UK nuclear base on the Clyde on Monday. Patrick Harvie MSP, whilst detained in the back of a police van, said: "I'm proud to do anything to resist weapons of mass destruction. It's vital that people should be told the government we elect next year will be looking to build a new generation of nuclear weapons and all candidates should be asked - will you join us in opposing new weapons of mass destruction? If Blair wants to rid the world of WMD he need only travel to the Clyde. I'll even offer to show him the base."

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