Kevin Foster is the Green Party candidate for the inaugural position of Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. Residing in Colburn near Richmond for most of his life, Foster has devoted his career to representing his community at all levels of local government.
His political journey includes serving as a Parish and Town Councillor, a Richmond District councillor, and currently, as a North Yorkshire Councillor where he holds the position of Green Group leader. As the first election for this new mayoral authority approaches on May 2nd, Foster aims to become the UK's first directly elected Green mayor.
His campaign highlights the Green Party's successful track record in securing council seats within both York and North Yorkshire. Foster advocates for a mayor committed to cooperative, cross-party working, emphasizing that a victory for the Conservative or Labour parties could lead to majority control and potentially partisan decision-making within the new authority.
Oversight of a 30-year Mayoral Investment Fund with borrowing powers. Full control over the Adult Education Budget.
Authority to enhance housing supply and quality and to secure land or infrastructure development. Powers to improve transportation through a consolidated, multi-year transport settlement.
Responsibilities for community safety, including the appointment of a Deputy Mayor to assume duties currently held by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Foster's priorities, if elected, center on securing sustainable jobs, improving housing and transport, and ensuring York & North Yorkshire receive a fair share of resources and investment.
Promote a Circular Economy to retain valuable jobs and attract environmentally-friendly businesses, pushing for a Net Zero economy as swiftly as possible. Champion affordable housing with high insulation and renewable energy standards and support the £50m York Central brownfield redevelopment.
Advocate for enhanced public transport systems to enable access to employment and education without reliance on personal vehicles. Collaborate across party lines and with various government levels and agencies to secure significant grants and investments beyond the mayoral budget of £18m/year, aiming for a tenfold increase through government grants and inward investment.
Kevin Foster’s candidacy represents a Green vision for the future of York and North Yorkshire, focusing on sustainability, economic innovation, and cross-party collaboration for the betterment of the region.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.