Write a Post
Caroline Russell - Greater London
2024 British Local Government Election - London Assembly Member Candidate - May, 2, 2024
Electorate of Greater London - City Hall Greens - United Kingdom
Who is Caroline Russell?
Caroline Russell, born on August 10, 1962, is a British politician and activist affiliated with the Green Party of England and Wales. Since May 2016, she has served as a Londonwide Member of the London Assembly and took on the role of Leader of the Greens in the London Assembly in October 2018.
Russell has also been a councillor for the Highbury East ward on Islington Council since May 2014, distinguishing herself as the only non-Labour member of the council during her tenure, thereby serving as the sole opposition voice. Russell's political engagement was sparked by the tragic death of a child in a traffic incident near her home, leading her to become the Green Party's local transport spokesperson in 2012.
Her advocacy has focused on critical issues such as road safety, environmental sustainability, and public health. She has actively campaigned for a 20 mph speed limit on Holloway Road and criticized authoritarian measures related to cannabis use in council housing.
As a parliamentary candidate, Russell has competed in the Islington North constituency during the 2015 and 2017 general elections, securing a significant share of the votes. Her leadership in the London Assembly has been marked by vocal opposition to projects like the Silvertown Tunnel and advocating for safer cycling infrastructure and lower speed limits across London.
Russell's environmental activism includes chairing the environmental committee on the Assembly and successfully proposing a motion to advance London's carbon neutrality target to 2030. Her report on the climate crisis's impact on London highlighted the vulnerability of the city's infrastructure to environmental challenges.
In her current term, Russell chairs the Police and Crime Committee and serves as the Deputy Chair of the Health Committee, addressing issues from violence reduction and drug harm to healthcare accessibility and the need for more public toilets in London. Her work emphasizes the importance of green policies in creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable city.
Russell's personal life includes her marriage to Roly Keating in 1989, with whom she has three children. She has lived in Islington since 1986, deeply rooting her in the community she serves.
Her background in fine art and civil engineering, combined with her activism and political career, underscores her commitment to a more inclusive, environmentally conscious London.
What are Caroline Russell's Political Values?
The Green Party stands as a unique political entity that emphasizes an interconnected approach to social, environmental, and economic issues. This manifesto outlines the party’s commitment to transforming society for the betterment of both the planet and its inhabitants.
Social and Environmental Justice:
The party views social, economic, and environmental challenges as interconnected and believes that resolving one requires addressing them all together. Success is not solely measured by economic indicators but also by the quality of life, including personal freedom, social equity, health, and ecosystem health.
Biodiversity and Resource Conservation:
Humanity's survival is dependent on biodiversity and the sustainable use of finite physical resources. Every individual, including future generations and other species, has a right to basic material security.
Voluntary Cooperation:
A healthy society is built on voluntary cooperation among empowered individuals, without discrimination. Decisions should be made as close as possible to the affected individuals to promote accountability and participatory democracy.
Non-violent Conflict Resolution:
The party seeks non-violent solutions that consider minority and future generation interests. Change can be achieved through various methods, including lifestyle changes and direct action, as long as they align with core principles.
Interdependence with Nature:
Humans are part of and depend on the natural world, which has suffered significantly from human activities. Traditional political and economic approaches are seen as destructive, emphasizing the need for a shift from growth-driven policies to those focusing on sustainable well-being.
Diversity and Inclusivity:
Proposes a society where individuals coexist with nature and each other in mutually beneficial ways, stressing empowerment over dominance. Values the diversity of human relationships with each other and the environment, advocating for a balance of various life-enhancing processes.
Sustainable Society:
All policies and actions should aim for sustainability, ensuring that resource use and environmental impacts are within the planet’s capacity to handle indefinitely. Calls for urgent action to address climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing ecological and egalitarian solutions.
Economic Restructuring:
Advocates for replacing GDP with indicators that reflect true progress towards ecological sustainability and human well-being.Supports the enhancement of rights and freedoms, balancing individual actions with the health of society and the planet.
Democratic Reform:
Promotes more democratic processes at all levels of government and society to ensure fair and inclusive decision-making. Supports measures to address inequality and ensure all citizens have access to necessary resources without compromising ecological integrity.
Cultural Change:
Encourages a shift in cultural values towards sustainability, cooperation, and respect for diversity. Engages in both global initiatives and local actions to implement its principles, aiming for a broad-based transformation across all sectors of society.
The Green Party's manifesto presents a radical rethinking of political, social, and economic systems, aiming to create a fair, sustainable society that respects the interconnected nature of global challenges. Through a combination of policy reform, cultural change, and grassroots action, the party seeks to redefine progress and ensure a viable future for all inhabitants of the planet.
