Four party politics arrives in Norfolk County Council

6 May 2005 - Norfolk Green Party today made history by winning a seat on Norfolk County Council, breaking the grip of three-Party politics on County Hall in Norfolk.

Photo: Andrew Boswell, the first Green Norfolk County Councillor, on the steps of County Hall.

Said new County Councillor Andrew Boswell: "The Greens now have representation not just at City level, but also at County level. This means that Green sympathizers all over Norfolk now have someone to speak for them; and it means that our voice will be heard not just in Norwich, but across the whole County. I am proud to serve at County Hall, and to voice our highly-distinctive Green concerns - such as ethical investment, sustainable planning and transport policies, and opposition to all privatisation including all PFI schemes - there, and beyond."

Councillor Rupert Read, Norfolk Green Party Press officer, added: "The overall complexion of Norfolk County Council changed very little today, except for one huge change: that four-Party politics has at last arrived in Norfolk. The future's bright - the future is Green."

Notes

Andrew Boswell was elected with an unexpectedly large 2,135 vote - 900 majority - in Nelson County Council ward. The Greens narrowly missed winning a second seat in nearby Wensum ward, and secured several third places in seats across Norwich and Norfolk, including particularly strong results in Mancroft, University, Feltwell and East Depwade.

The Green vote across Norfolk, averaged across the seats in which Greens stood, doubled from the last County elections four years ago, to over 8%. 17,635 people in Norfolk voted Green in the County elections, this time.