The Green Party's national election campaign will be launched at Brighton's Metropole Hotel tomorrow morning (April 15) at 10.30am.

The Greens have chosen Brighton to launch their general election manifesto as a number of pundits are predicting that Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, will make history by becoming their first MP. Caroline is standing in the Brighton Pavilion constituency.
 
She will be joined at the launch by the candidates from the party’s two other target constituencies, Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay (Norwich South), and London Assembly Chair, Darren Johnson (Lewisham Deptford).
 
The Party is fielding its highest number of general election candidates in over 300 constituencies and is also contesting every seat in London.

Brighton and Hove have nine Green Party councillors across the six wards of Brighton Pavilion and a total of 13 on the council. In the 2009 European Election, the Greens beat all parties across the city, gaining 31% of the vote, compared to 21% for the Conservatives and 14% for Labour.  A recent ICM opinion poll put the Greens in the lead, with the Conservatives 8% behind.

Manifesto pledges include:
 
Jobs and a living wage  
The creation of an extra million jobs and training places to green Britain's housing, transport and infrastructure, and raising the minimum wage to £8.10 per hour.
 
Health, the NHS and Social Care
A programme of free locally accessible services, including an end to dental and prescription charges, and the introduction of free social care for the elderly and those with serious disabilities.
 
The Banks
A High Pay Commission to ensure bankers and other business people are not rewarded for failure, and the promotion of community banks, credit unions and mutuals so banking supports people’s needs.
 
Pensions
A basic non-means tested £170 a week pension.
 
Housing
Ending the blight of the 300,000 long-term empty homes including over 1100 in Brighton & Hove. The Greens will fight to bring these back into use, cutting housing waiting lists by renovating Britain’s 37,000 empty council homes and building new affordable homes to high environmental standards.

The Green Party manifesto launch is at the Osbourne Suite, Hotel Metropole, Kings Road, Brighton at 10.30am on Thursday April 15.

For more information view:
www.greenparty.org.uk