Gscene News Archive

Councillor Bill Randall is the new convenor of the Green Group of 12 councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Bill, who has represented the Hanover and Elm Grove area since 2003, was elected unopposed by Green councillors and party members. He succeeds Councillor Keith Taylor, who has been convenor since 2001 and is standing for the Green Party in the European elections in June.

“Following Keith is a huge challenge,” says Bill.
“He has led our group with courage and integrity. Under his stewardship the number of Green councillors in Brighton and Hove rose from three to 12 and the city was given a long-overdue political facelift.

“My task is to build on his successes with the help of a highly talented and committed group of Green councillors. We are going into a crucial period that will see the European elections and a parliamentary election where we are confident Caroline Lucas will be returned in Pavilion as the first Green MP. At the local elections in 2011 we fully expect to increase the number of Green councillors.

“Every stage of Green Party progress has been challenging since Pete West was elected in 1996 as Brighton’s first Green councillor. The next stage promises to be equally demanding and exciting. Our key tasks will be protecting front-line public services and convincing the other parties of the need to take radical action to combat climate change and create local jobs at the same time.”

Simon Williams, Chair of Brighton and Hove Green Party, said,
“A new Green council convenor is an exciting prospect for the city - especially at a time when the city faces such huge economic, social and environmental challenges.

“Bill will lead the Green Group of councillors with great skill, appealing to our underlying principles of fairness and social justice. Taking over from Councillor Keith Taylor will be a hard task. However I’m confident the party will thrive under Bill’s convenorship, helping to pave the way for the Greens to win control of Brighton and Hove City Council.

“Finally, I must convey everyone’s thanks to Keith for his eight years of continuous service as convenor - a period when the Green Party has grown beyond all expectation to become a powerful force for progressive politics locally and poised to win its first MP.”

Bill Randall leads on LGBT issues for the Green Party.

Councillors Amy Kennedy and Ian Davey were elected unopposed as the Green Group’s Deputy Convenors

For more infomation about the Green Party view:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk